By MATT PIKE
Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch homered for a fourth time in the series, but the St. Louis Cardinals used a big five run eighth inning to even up the series in Chicago at Wrigley Field, beating the Cubs 8-6 on Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals opened up the scoring in the first inning after the bases were loaded thanks to walks to Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras and a single by Alec Burleson, setting up Thomas Saggese for a two RBI single, driving in Donovan and Contreras for the early lead. The Cubs cut that lead in half in the bottom of the second inning on Busch's solo home run to center field, his 18th of the season, and fourth of the series after hitting three in the opener on Friday.
Nolan Gorman answered the home run with one of his own to extend the Cardinals lead in the fourth inning, blasting it 420 feet to center field for his eighth home run of the season. The Cubs again though in the bottom half of the inning cut the lead to one as Ian Happ grounded out, bringing home Nico Hoerner who walked earlier in the inning.
Chicago took the lead briefly in the bottom of the sixth inning after former Cardinal Carson Kelly doubled, and later scored the tying run on an RBI single by Hoerner. A wild pitch from reliever Kyle Leahy, his second of the inning, brought home Busch who had singled following Kelly's double for the go ahead run. The Cubs extended that lead in the seventh on a solo home run by Kelly.
Trailing 5-3, the Cardinals used the eighth inning to take the lead, scoring five runs in the frame which started by cutting the Cubs lead to one run on a solo home run by Burleson. After back to back singles by Saggese and Lars Nootbaar, it was Gorman coming through again for the Redbirds with an RBI single, tying the game and bringing home Saggese.
With two runners on, Yohel Pozo pinch hit for Pedro Pagés, and as he has a couple other times this season, came through clutch with a three run go ahead home run to left field, putting St. Louis up 8-5. Seiya Suzuki doubled to bring home Kyle Tucker, who reached first on catcher's interference, for the final run for Chicago in the bottom half of the inning.
Steven Matz earned the win in relief for the Cardinals, improving to 5-2 on the season, pitching 1 2/3 innings and giving up one run on one hit while striking out three and walking two. Former Royal Brad Keller took the loss for the Cubs. Ryan Helsley earned his 17th save. At the plate, Burleson was 3-for-5 with the home run and an RBI. Gorman was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
St. Louis and Chicago wrap up their series tomorrow. Erick Fedde (3-8, 4.56 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Matthew Boyd (8-3, 2.65 ERA) for the Cubs. First pitch is at 5:10pm, coverage will be joined just before the start at 5 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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