Cubs-Cardinals: Cardinals Down Cubs 12-6

The Cardinals downed the Cubs Friday afternoon 12-6 after knocking out Carlos Zambrano early in the game.

The Cardinals took an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first after Albert Pujols hit a run scoring single to drive in the first run that was followed up by a grand-slam by Adam Kennedy.

The Cardinals then added another three runs in the second, the first coming off a wild pitch that allowed Jason La Rue to score, the second run came in on a Felipe Lopez single that scored Ryan Ludwick and Adam Kennedy drove in the third run when he single to drive in Lopez. Aaron Miles double in Adam Kennedy to give the Cardinals a 9-0 lead after four innings.

Then in the top of the fifth Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer to make it a 11-0 game. The Cardinals also scored in the sixth on a single by Brian Barden.

The Cubs finally scored in the bottom of the fifth when Daryle Ward doubled in Hoffpauir and Casey McGehee drove in the second run when he hit a grounder that drove in Ronny Cedeno. The Cubs then scored two in the bottom of the eight and ninth to make it a 12-6 game.

Carlos Zambrano followed up his no-hitter with a terrible outing where he allowed eight earned runs on six hits while walking three in 1 2/3 innings. With the loss Zambrano fell to 14-6 on the season.

Adam Wainwright who started for the Cardinals put in five innings of work allowing just two earned runs on four hits while striking out five. With the win Wainwright improved to 10-2 on the season.

Saturday afternoon the Cubs will send Ted Lilly to mound who is 15-9 with a 4.13 ERA as Joel Pineiro who is 6-6 with a 5.24 ERA. Game time is set for 2:55 pm ct.

With the loss the Cubs are now 92-60 and their magic number remains at two games. It could be down to one game if the Brewers lose to the Reds Friday night.