A five run first inning for the St. Louis Cardinals is all they would need as they start their Memorial Day weekend in Chicago with a win against the Cubs. Chris Carpenter would pick up his sixth win of the season as the Cardinals beat the Cubs 7-1.
The Cardinals bats would be on fire as they would pound out six straight hits. Albert Pujols would drive in the first two runs, followed by an RBI single from Colby Rasmus and an double from Jadier Molina that would drive in two more. Cubs starter Randy Wells would not make it out of the first inning.
The last two runs for St. Louis would come thanks to a two run home run off the bat of Ryan Ludwick in the ninth. The shot was his seventh of the season.
Carpenter would go six and two thirds giving up one run on seven hits. He would strike out five and now has an ERA of 2.93 on the season.
The bullpen of Dennys Reyes, Kyle McClellan, Jason Motte and just called up Fernando Salas would keep the Cubs off of the board.
Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon at 3:10. With Kyle Lohse undergoing surgery and being on the disabled list, Adam Ottavino will make his Major League debut on the mound. Carlos Silva will start for Chicago.