Cubs settle for series split with Cards as bullpen struggles

Photo by Steve Mitchell / USATODAY

by Katrina Branson - Correspondent - Sun Aug 14 23:25:43 GMT-05:00 2016

CHICAGO -- The Cubs led most of the game, but imploded in the 8th as the Cardinals scored 5 runs to take the game 6-4 and split the 4-game series on Sunday night.

The Cardinals broke the Cubs 11–game winning streak on Saturday, but the Cubs hoped to get another streak going. They started things off early in the first as Dexter Fowler took a walk and Kris Bryant hit a single. Anthony Rizzo then singled to right scoring Fowler. Ben Zobrist hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Bryant, putting the Cubs ahead 2-0.

The third inning showed Garcia scoring on a throwing error by Zobrist, putting the score at 2-1. Chris Coghlan made a leaping catch at the ivy to get the Cubs out of the inning with no more damage done.

The bottom of the 6th showed Mike Leake retiring his 16th batter in a row, but was immediately followed by Bryant’s first triple of the year. Bryant’s partner in crime Rizzo hit a single to right earning himself a RBI single and making the score 3-1. John Lackey was taken out of the game in the 7th, as it seemed he was having issues with his shoulder. Lackey pitched 6.2 innings, allowed four hits, and struck out 5 giving him an ERA of 3.41. Justin Grimm entered the game and pitched one ball to get the Cubs out of the inning.

The Cubs had runners on the corners in the bottom of the 7th with no outs. Willson Contreras took a walk to load the bases, but the Cubs were unable to score anything as the game headed into the 8th inning with the Cubs still in the lead 3-1.

The Cardinals came back to take the lead in the 8th as Stephen Piscotty homered to center off of Hector Rondon scoring Wong and Greg Garcia putting the score at 4-3. Brandon Moss then homered to center putting the Cardinals ahead 5-3. The Cardinals extended their lead on a Grichuk double to right allowing Peralta to score.

Anthony Rizzo put the Cubs within two of the Cardinals as he crushes a ball for his first home run since July 20th.

The Cubs, however, were unable to get anything else going as the Cardinals win the game 6-4, taking two of the four games.

The Cubs will have an off day tomorrow, as they return to play on Tuesday facing the Brewers. The matchup will see Matt Garza up against Trevor Cahill.