After delay, Cardinals beat Cubs 5-3 to avoid sweep

Their last starts: Hendricks threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs against Arizona on April 9 in a 4-2 Cub victory, while Martinez threw 6 and allowed two runs in a 12-2 St. Louis win over Atlanta. Former Cardinal John Lackey struck out 11 in Monday’s series opener, the Cubs got two RBIs from their pitcher in Tuesday’s 2-1 win, and had a chance to sweep with Wednesday’s series finale.

Matt Holliday homered and the Cardinals scored twice in each of the first two innings against Kyle Hendricks (1-2).

Martinez faced Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the first with two outs and a runner on first. Holliday logged no homers at Busch in 2015.

St. Louis right-hander Carlos Martinez allowed just one run and three hits over seven innings and was helped by an over-the-wall catch in the first inning by Randal Grichuk that robbed Anthony Rizzo of a homer. The ball carried out to the Cardinals Hall of Fame decal in center field, and that’s where Grichuk met it.

“I’ve watched it 72 times”. But then also having to jump and pull it back over is pretty tough. I’m trying to come up with the kids version of Try Not to Suck.

The Cardinals (8-7), head West for their next seven games, beginning Friday night in San Diego.

“That could have set things in a different direction”, he said.

Hendricks made it through one out in the sixth inning before being lifted for Clayton Richard with two men on base. Yadier Molina’s leadoff double and Martinez’s RBI single created a two-run bump in the second inning to give the righthander a 4-0 lead to hold.

“I was able to help my team and help myself”. Martinez is a ideal 3-0 for the Cards in the early season.

He cruised through this Cubs lineup, holding them to three hits and one earned run while issuing three walks and striking out five. “I was able to make some of my pitches and work the outside of the strike zone”.

“I find it humorous, actually”, Maddon said.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams fields a ground ball off the bat of Chicago Cubs’ B …

But St. Louis added a run in the eighth against Adam Warren when Molina smoked a single to left that plated Grichuk.

Trevor Rosenthal fanned the side in the ninth for his fourth save of the year and his 100th career save. It was Rosenthal’s fourth save of the season and the 100th of his career. I’d expect them to be thinking about getting to Cinicinnati for the next series. To have that accolade is really special. The Cardinals mustered just one hit in the half-inning.

“I think in hindsight Holliday’s home run meant a lot and did get something positive going”, Matheny said. “Just an overpowering, very effortless, easy fastball”.