Chris Volstad Struggles Again as the Chicago Cubs Lose to the Cardinals 5-1

The St. Louis Cardinals ended a modest two-game winning streak for the Chicago Cubs as they won 5-1.   Here is what we learned from this Cubs loss.

Chris Volstad's struggles continues:  It has not been a promising start for Volstad, as one bad inning led to his downfall.  Granted, everything should have been avoided if Starlin Castro did not make that error, but he had opportunities to pitch his way out of that fateful fourth inning.  What is promising is he did not allow a walk in this outing, but he did throw 101 pitches in just six innings.

Geovany Soto and Marlon Byrd struggles impact the lineup:  Obvious statement, but Byrd and Soto were 0-for-8 in today's game and they are providing zero impact at the bottom of the lineup. They were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.  It might be time to give Steve Clevenger some more playing time behind the plate.

Will leave a lot of runners left on base:  Outside of the previous two games, the Cubs were struggling with runners in scoring position.  Today, the Cubs were able to score one measly run while stranding seven, and there were only 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.  The Cubs do not have the offensive ingredients to to ensure this will not be the norm every day.

Alfonso Soriano is hot out of the gate:  Typically a slow starter to begin the season, Soriano has been red-hot to begin the season.  He notched two hits in today's game and he is currently batting .313 on the season.  Unfortunately, we are still awaiting his first home run.

Follow me on Twitter @RyanNAnthony