Adam Wainwright dominated the Cubs after the first inning, but A-HA, the first inning counts, too, Adam! That inning featured back-to-back homers from Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom – both in-season pick-ups – and that was enough for the Cubs.
Jeff Samardzija was great tonight all the way into the 9th inning. Dale Sveum gave Samardzija a chance to finish it, but he couldn’t quite get it done in the 9th. Thankfully, Kevin Gregg was once again available, and he locked things down after allowing a single to Yadier Molina, courtesy of a rarely-called out-of-the-base-paths double play (the pinch runner for Molina slid about 15 feet wide of the bag to take out Starlin Castro on the turn).
One Cardinals was save a little ignominy by that interference call, but we’ll make sure he knows.