Yadier Molina exits with sprained left thumb, Cardinals hold off aggressive

The Cubs also lost a game to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the race for the top N.L. Wild Card position as Pittsburgh defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in Los Angeles.

The Cubs will have to play with more efficiency than they showed in the last six games. It’s awesome to see Wrigley that excited again. But, they soon were quieted when Rookie Tommy Pham, (.272 BA) second in the order, was at the plate.

The Cubs started out this home stand the same way they did their important road trip. Heyward reached on an infield single. Cody Allen got his 31st save in 35 chances.

Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang left Thursday’s game against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning with a significant left knee injury.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Buster Posey hit a three-run homer and Tim Hudson (8-8) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings, improving to 11-2 against Arizona.

Miguel Sano’s two-run homer tied the score for the Twins in the seventh. As Martinez walked two batters and allowed two hits, he at least twice was animated about his frustration with the strike zone. He walked Kris Bryant.

The Cardinals had the opportunity to clinch the game with a ninth-inning rally when Matt Carpenter hit a two-run home run off Zac Rosscup to make it 5-3. One of those innings was the sixth.

“We’ve evolving”, center fielder Dexter Fowler said. Jonathan Papelbon got his 24th save.

Chicago Cubs starter Jon Lester delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Chicago. With two on and two outs in the eighth, Skip Schumaker hit a looping fly ball down the left field line. In baseball? How dare you spend an extra two seconds watching your 450-foot home run? He hit a medium fly ball to Jason Heyward in right field.

Molina apparently sprained the thumb in his glove hand while applying a tag that nailed what would have been the tying run in the eighth inning Sunday. Cardinals hold their lead, 4-3.

After Starlin Castro led off the ninth with a single, pinch runner Quintin Berry was inserted with the intent to steal second.

Cubs: Maddon said reliever Pedro Strop was not available after the righty bailed the Cubs out of a ninth-inning jam Saturday and preserved a 5-4 win. Trevor Rosenthal then struck out Jorge Soler and got Kyle Schwarber to ground out for his 46th save. When Rizzo was hit, there was goal behind it and the rivalry between these two teams was ignited further.

“You could continue to use different ways to describe it”, manager Joe Maddon said. “It wasn’t lost on me last year [when the Rays played an interleague series here], and this year it’s been exaggerated positively”. The Cardinals have been in first place since April 16, but there are no guarantees.

The Cubs are comfortably ahead of the Giants for the final wild-card spot. Game 3 is Monday night in Chicago. What transpires for the Cardinals and their MVP catcher will be released later in the day.

The Cardinals are 85-47 when Molina starts this season. He will find out today if he is, or is not, released for return. Rosenthal stated, “He’s our Little Yadi”. For me it’s either something on the Cubs or look elsewhere… Tony Cruz would likely fill-in as the primary catcher if Molina misses any time. For the most part they were correct.

“Every one of my teammates is grinding, but we’re having fun at the same time”.