Cardinals 6 – Cubs 4

Complete Recap

Chris Carpenter has not had a stellar start thus far, today he pitched 7 innings and gave up 13 hits on top of 4 runs. He now has a season 4.34 ERA.

This game also touted the return of one of this seasons surprising gems for the Cardinals, Ryan Theriot, who spent 2005 through part of 2010 as a Cub. He himself went 0 for 4 and left 3 runners on base. Albery Pujols was the true surprise on the day, going 4 for 5 and raised his average back above .250 (now batting .268).

The top of the 1st really started with the Colby Rasmus double, leading to an Albert Pujols single that sends Colby to third, and Matt Holliday singles to drive in the run, 1-0 Cardinals. Carpenter saw a tough first inning himself. Kosuke Fukudome walked, Darwin Barney singles, and Marlon Byrd singles to load the bases. Aramis Ramirez was the next batter to the plate where he proceeded to single in the two runners, 2-1 Cubs.

Top of the 4th, the Cardinals strike back. Lance Berkman walked, Yadier Molina doubles to send home Berkman. The next batter was Nick Punto who proceeded to hit a ball to left that slips past Alfonso Soriano, Yadi trots home and Punto legs it out for an RBI triple. Next up is Daniel Descalso, and in a strange turn of events, he hits a pop fly to center and Nick Punto tags to run home for the score….or does he. Marlon Byrd threw the ball home to Koyie Hill who threw the ball to third and the umpire calls Punto out. He rules Punto ran before the catch was made and thus was not an official tag, that’s the end of the inning.

The 7th inning started on a Nick Punto single, Descalso singles, and Chris Carpenter lays down a sac bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Ryan Theriot is next and he hits a sac fly to drive home Nick Punto, 4-2 Cardinals. The bottom half wasn’t as lucky. Darwin Barney singles, Marlon Byrd singles, Soriano is hit and bases are loaded. Money man Carlos Pena comes up to hit a sac fly to Lance Berkman to score Darwin Barney, 4-3 Cardinals. Starlin Castro singles and now the game is tied at 4.

The top of the 8th the Cubs put in the old gold standard, Kerry Wood. Albert Pujols singled first, Matt Holliday walks, and Lance Berkman flies out but the two runners advance. Kerry Wood intentionally walks Yadi to load the bases with only one out. Punto lines out and now the bases are loaded with two outs. Daniel Descalso plays the role of hero yet again and he scores Pujols and Holliday to put the Cardinals back on top 6-4.

Winning Pitcher: Chris Carpenter (1-2 : 4.32 ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Kerry Wood (1-2 : 2.57 ERA)

Save: Eduardo Sanchez (4 SV : 2.57 ERA)