Monday’s Game Report: Cubs 5, Cardinals 1
The Cardinals had a chance to pull just a half-game behind the Cubs in the NL Central on Monday, but Kyle Hendricks made certain it didn’t happen.
Hendricks shut out the Cardinals through the first six innings to send them out of town 2 ½ games out of first place.
The Cubs picked away at Cardinals’ starter Johan Oviedo, scoring single runs in the first, third and fourth before two errors led to two runs in the fifth.
The loss snapped the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak,
Here is how the game broke down:
At the plate: Hendricks allowed just four hits through the first six innings and did not walk a batter. Two of those runners were quickly erased on a pickoff play and a double play … The Cardinals scored their only run in the seventh on an RBI single by Matt Wieters following singles by Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong … Matt Carpenter was hitless in three at-bats, dropping his season average to .170.
On the mound: Oviedo allowed the five runs on eight hits, throwing 96 pitches in his 4 2/3 innings. He did not record a strikeout until his final batter of the game … The final two runs were unearned, when Oviedo gave up a single to Willson Contreras following throwing errors by Carpenter and Wong … Tyler Webb worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings followed by a scoreless inning each from Seth Elledge and Rob Kaminsky.
Key stat: Beginning Tuesday, the Cardinals will play 15 games in the next 11 days, including five doubleheaders. Their only day off in that stretch will be on Wednesday, in between two doubleheaders. That’s also their final day off of the season.
Worth noting: Yadier Molina came out of the game in the sixth inning in what the team said was a precautionary move because of a left elbow contusion … Monday’s game was the 13th and final game for the Cardinals in Chicago this season, their 10th against the Cubs plus the three-game series against the White Sox. The Cardinals have played 15 games so far this season in St. Louis.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals return home to host the Minnesota Twins in the doubleheader on Tuesday. Carlos Martinez will be activated from the injured list to get the start in the opener, and Daniel Ponce de Leon will be added as the 29th man to start the second game. Both have been working out at the Springfield camp site.
