Carlos Marmol Closes To Give Chicago Cubs Win Over St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3

For the first time this season the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals squared off, in what turned out to be a very exciting game, that the Cubs won, 4-3.

The Cardinals started a rookie in the place of Chris Carpenter who is on the DL yet again. The Cubs started their ace Carlos Zambrano who has struggled against the Cardinals in recent starts.

The Cubs jumped out in front early scoring two runs in the first inning and one in the second inning, though they certainly could have scored more. With the bases loaded and no out in the second they only managed to score one run.

With the door left opened the Cardinals took advantage scoring on a sac fly by Albert Pujols with the bases loaded. With the collective exhale of Pujols minimal damage Ryan Ludwick quickly followed with a three run home-run to give the Cardinals the lead 4-3.

The Cardinals rookie settled in by striking out seven, and ending his rookie debut after 4.0 innings. With the Cardinals bullpen left to finish the game the Cubs tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth inning.

Carlos Zambrano did not have a good game giving up three long balls and was charged with 7 earned runs and striking out 7 as well. He earned a no decision for his 7 innings of work.

Going into the eighth inning the Cubs were down by one, with Carlos Marmol warming up in the bullpen. The former Cardinal, Aaron Miles, pinched hit for the pitcher and drew a walk. Soriano stepped up to the plate and promptly hit a slider out of the park and into the left-centerfield bleachers to put the Cubs ahead.

With Carlos Marmol already warm, it was up to him to close the game. He walked the first man he faced on four straight pitches. Pujols stepped into the batters box and with the first pitch over threw a slider and plunked Pujols in the elbow.

A call to the bullpen got Gregg getting lose. Marmol overpowered Ludwick with fastballs in the mid 90's and got the save when pinch hitter Khalil Greene grounded into a double play to end what turned out to be a wild roller-coaster ride in Wrigley.