John Lackey allowed two hits into the eighth inning, and rookies Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty each homered in the eighth as the St. Louis Cardinals ended the Chicago Cubs nine-game win streak with a 4-0 victory Friday night in Game One of the NL Division Series.
Lackey allowed just one walk in the first five innings and two of the three baserunners who reached were wiped out by double plays. Addison Russell ended the suspense with a solid single up the middle to open the sixth and Kyle Schwarber’s bunt hit leading off the seventh was the only other hit allowed by Lackey in 7 1/3 innings.
Matt Holliday had an RBI single in the first, giving the Cardinal a 1-0 lead after Stephen Piscotty hit a ground rule double with one out.
The second largest crowd at Busch Stadium III was announced at 47,830. Lackey held the Cubs hitless for five innings, getting help from Kris Bryant’ double-play ball by to end the fourth after a one-out walk.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Saturday. The Cardinals start Jaime Garcia (10-6), and the Cubs go with Kyle Hendricks (8-7).