Jeff Samardzija singles in a run off Jaime Garcia. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija pitched 5.2 innings of shutout ball for his first major league win and he also drove in his first career RBI as the former first round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs silenced the Cardinals bats in a 5-1 loss for St. Louis that now leaves them seven games behind Cincinnati in the Central Division.
Samardzija (1-1) gave up six hits and four walks while striking out just one as he did just enough to stay out of trouble despite the Cardinals getting the leadoff hitter on base in four of his five innings. The Cardinals lone run came on a RBI single from Matt Holliday in the seventh off reliever Andrew Cashner.
Tony LaRussa postgame comments
Geovany Soto went 3 for 3 with an RBI single and reached base all four times up. Alfonso Soriano drove in two runs and Kosuke Fukudome had an RBI single for the Cubs who beat Jaime Garcia, who lost for the second start in a row. Garcia went six innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out four.
Jaime Garcia postgame comments
