Game 1 of a crucial 7 game home stand for the Cardinals. A close game throughout, but timely hits by the Cubs with two outs was the difference as the Cubs win 4-3. The Cards took at 2-1 in the bottom of the 5 th on a one out triple from by Skip Schumacher. The Cubs came back to tie it in the 6 th with a run, but it could have been worse. Kip Wells gave up four hits and a walk in that inning, but Molina threw out a baserunner and Albert Pujols made a great play at first turning a would be RBI double by Cliff Floyd into an out.
Kip Wells took the game into the 7 th and got two out right away, but an error by Rolen and then a walk to Derek Lee, set up an RBI single by Aramis Ramirez…that prompted Tony LaRussa to pull him from the game in favor of Randy Flores who got the final out in the 7 th . Same thing in the 9th, reliever Russ Springer got the first two out, then a walk to Ryan Theriot, a stolen base, and a base hit by Derek Lee extended the lead to 4-2.
The Cardinals made it a one run game in the 9th and Pujols came up with a man on first on two outs, but Pujols grounded to second to end the rally.