The Cardinals left Chicago with a four-game split with the Cubs, culminating in yesterday’s 7-4 loss at Wrigley. Cardinals’ starting pitcher Chris Carpenter was going in search of his 22nd win of the season, but was denied after getting into an early hole.
After John Rodriguez gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, Carpenter surrendered three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Cory Patterson drove in a run with a double, Henry Blanco doubled in two runs and Neifi Perez made it 4-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Carpenter lasted just four innings and was charged with four runs off four hits. But he was prevented from getting the loss, when St. Louis rallied for three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Yadier Molina drove in a run with a single, David Eckstein grounded in a run and So Taguchi hit an RBI double.
The bullpen wasn’t able to make good on the offensive outburst, as Antony Reyes gave up a home run to Matt Murton in the bottom of the sixth. Todd Walker hit a solo homer off Cal Eldred in the seventh and Jeromy Burnitz drove in a run with a sacrifice alter in the seventh to give Chicago a 7-4 lead.
Cubs’ starter Carl Zambrano got his 14th win of the season by tossing a complete game.
