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Royals get swept by Toronto as losing streak reaches eight

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TORONTO (AP) — Teoscar Hernandez’s hot bat is going to force the Blue Jays into a tough decision sometime soon.

Hernandez had four hits, including a two-run home run, Curtis Granderson hit his ninth career grand slam and the Blue Jays routed Kansas City 15-5 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep of the Royals, losers of eight straight.

Hernandez singled and scored in the first, homered in the third, flied out in the fourth, singled in the sixth and hit a two-run triple in the seventh. It was the first four-hit game of his career.

“He can’t play any better,” manager John Gibbons said.

Needing a double for the cycle, Hernandez struck out swinging in the eighth against reliever Brian Flynn.

“I got excited, too much I think, and that’s what made me strike out,” Hernandez said. “I wanted it.”

Granderson’s slam, which came off Justin Grimm, was the big blow in a six-run eighth. Toronto set season highs with 15 runs and 15 hits.

Yangervis Solarte also homered for the Blue Jays, a solo shot in the third. Solarte had two hits and a walk and scored each time he reached base.

Toronto (12-5) is off to its best start since 2009.

“We’re playing good baseball,” Gibbons said. “We’re doing everything well. You ride that.”

The question is whether they’ll ride Hernandez, whose spot in the lineup could be in jeopardy when designated hitter Kendrys Morales returns from a right hamstring injury Friday.

“It’s not going to be an easy decision whatever we choose to do, but we’ll have to make one,” Gibbons said.

Acquired from Houston last July, Hernandez has nine home runs in 31 games with Toronto, including eight last September.

“He’s really talented,” Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy said of Hernandez. “Having (Justin) Smoak behind him, that helps, too.”

J.A. Happ (3-1) allowed five hits and four runs in six innings to win his third straight start as the Blue Jays won their fourth straight and eighth of nine.

After losing its first two home games of the season, Toronto has won seven of eight at Rogers Centre. The Jays have outscored opponents 67-40 in 10 home games.

Toronto has won 12 of its past 15 home meetings with Kansas City.

Whit Merrifield had a two-run homer and Jorge Soler hit a solo blast, but the Royals’ April slide continued. Kansas City’s skid is its longest since a nine-game slump last April.

“Pretty discouraged,” Kennedy said when asked to sum up the team’s mood. “It’s not the start we all want.”

Kansas City entered with the worst bullpen ERA in the majors at 6.75, and saw that spike to 7.94 after four relievers allowed nine runs in three innings.

“It definitely hasn’t been very pretty,” manager Ned Yost said. “I think (GM Dayton Moore) and I will talk tomorrow.”

Hernandez and Solarte connected off Kennedy (1-2), who allowed six runs, four earned, and eight hits in five innings.

LOOK OUT BELOW!

Two days after Monday’s series opener was canceled when chunks of ice falling off the nearby CN Tower punctured holes in the retractable roof at Rogers Centre, roads, walkways and entrance gates on the east side of the stadium remained blocked by police.

MR. VERSATILITY

Toronto’s Russell Martin began the game at catcher but played the final four innings at third base after Luke Maile pinch-hit for second baseman Gift Ngoepe in the fifth. Solarte moved from third to second.

FAST START

Maile has more RBI in six games this season (8) than he had in 46 games last season (7).

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Clay Buchholz made his first start at Double-A San Antonio Tuesday, allowing two hits in 4 2/3 shutout innings. Buchholz made just two starts with Philadelphia last season before undergoing elbow surgery. … Buchholz worked with catcher Salvador Perez, who is rehabbing a sprained left knee. It was Perez’s final game at Double-A before advancing to Triple-A Omaha.

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson (right shoulder) will not be ready to come off the disabled list when he is eligible to return Saturday, Gibbons said. Donaldson is working out at Toronto’s minor league complex in Dunedin, Florida.

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City is off Thursday before a doubleheader at Detroit Friday, its second in four days. RHP Jakob Junis (2-1, 1.93 ERA) starts Game 1 against Detroit RHP Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.86). RHP Jason Hammel (0-1, 3.86) starts Game 2 for the Royals against LHP Daniel Norris (0-1, 7.11).

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.86) starts as the Blue Jays begin a four-game series at the Yankees. LHP CC Sabathia (0-0, 4.00) starts for New York.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western’s McCarthy named MIAA Men’s Golfer of the Week

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Patrick McCarthy of Griffon men’s golf has been named MIAA Golfer of the Week.

McCarthy won the Broncho Stampede in Edmond, Oklahoma with a three-under-par 213. The sophomore had rounds of 72, 70 and 71 and led Missouri Western to the team title as well. The individual championship was McCarthy’s second of the season. He was also named MIAA Golfer of the Week on March 21 and September 27.

Missouri Western is in action next at the MIAA Championships on Monday, April 23-Wednesday, April 25 at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest announces three men’s basketball signings, including Lafayette’s Bernard

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MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has announced three additions, Diego Bernard, Xavier Rhodes and Luke Waters’ to the 2018-19 Bearcat roster. All three players were selected to the 2018 GKCBCA All-Star Game.

Bernard was an all-state performer at Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Mo.

“Diego is an incredible athlete and has the ability to make plays off the dribble and score from multiple levels. What sets him apart from others is his mentality on defense and the edge that he plays with on the court,” said McCollum. “He’s another great player from a very good high school program (St. Joe Lafayette) that we have a lot of success recruiting from in the past ”

Bernard helped lead a senior campaign where Lafayette High School had 22 wins, a MEC Conference Championship, a District Championship and a Sectional Championship game appearance. He was named all-conference four years, all-district three years, a Class 3 all-state selection and is a member of his schools 1,000-point club.

Rhodes was a three-year varsity letterman at Rockhurst High School.

“Xavier is a very quick and is very tough to contain off the dribble. He is an incredible finish at the rim, one of the best that we have seen at the high school level. His court vision and ability to get his teammates involved stuck out a lot in the recruiting process.”

Rhodes senior season included helping lead his team to 20 wins, a District Championship, and a Sectional Championship game appearance. He averaged 15 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and three steals a game. He was also on the 2018 Missouri Class 5 All-state team.

Waters’ was a four-year varsity player and all-time leader scorer at Olathe Northwest High School.

“Luke comes from a great high school program at Olathe Northwest that has had a lot of talent over the years with Shavon Shields (Nebraska) and Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky, Sacromento Kings). Luke’s name stands atop of the program in terms of scoring and leading his team to the first ever state tournament appearance for the school. He is a high character kid that can score in a variety of ways.”

Waters’ led his team to first state appearance in school history as a junior and was a 1,000-point scorer. He was a Kansas All 6A 1st Team as a senior and a two-time Sunflower League 1st team.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffon use big seventh inning to pull away from Emporia State

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ST. JOSEPH – A big seventh inning turned a back-and-forth game into a runaway win Tuesday night for Griffon Baseball (22-17) over Emporia State (21-18). Missouri Western torched the Hornets for six runs in the seventh to take the season series from ESU with an 11-3 game three win.

The series win was big for the Griffons as the two teams entered the night tied in the MIAA standings. Missouri Western (14-12) exited with a one-game lead over Emporia State (13-13) for seventh place in the conference.

A Brooks Day leadoff triple got the seventh inning onslaught going. Levi Schreiner recorded his third RBI of the game with a sac fly to center three batters later. Fahd Shakeel made it an 8-3 game with a two-out, two-run single and Nolan Meyer capped the inning with a two-RBI triple.

NOTABLES

  • Missouri Western trailed 3-2 after Emporia State scored two in the top of the third. The Griffs tied the game in the bottom half; added one in both the fifth and the sixth before the big seventh inning.
  • Preston Bailey (3-3) got the win in relief of Levi Abrahamson. Bailey allowed just two hits through 5 1/3, striking out two in the process.
  • Schreiner was one of five Griffs with two hits on the night. He led the team with his three RBIs
  • Casey Danley went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI and extended his hitting streak to 14 games
  • Day was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs
  • Dusty Stroup went 2-for-4 with a run scored
  • Maurice Bruce also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored

UP NEXT
The Griffons begin eight-straight games on the road with a non-conference tilt at William Jewell on Wednesday. Then it’s on to Central Oklahoma for a three-game series over the weekend. It was announced, Tuesday, that the team’s non-conference game at Rockhurst on April 24 was cancelled.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals lose both games at Toronto Tuesday

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TORONTO (AP) — Luke Maile singled down the right-field line with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays walked off with a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night to sweep a rare doubleheader at Rogers Centre.

Toronto won the opener 11-3 and has swept all three doubleheaders at its retractable-roof stadium, which opened in 1989.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the tenth. Kevin Pillar singled off Brian Flynn (0-1) before Aledmys Diaz walked and Randal Grichuk was hit by a pitch.

Maile then drove the second pitch he saw from Flynn down the right-field line, driving in his third run of the game and handing the Royals their seventh straight loss. Tyler Clippard (2-0) worked a scoreless 10th for his 50th career victory.

Danny Duffy allowed two hits in six scoreless innings, striking out eight in his longest outing of the season, before Toronto rallied off Kansas City’s bullpen.

After Justin Grimm walked the bases loaded to open the seventh, Maile drove a pitch from Brad Keller down the right-field line to score two runs. Pinch-hitter Devon Travis tied the game at 3 with an infield single, a grounder that third baseman Mike Moustakas couldn’t get out of his glove in time.

Steve Pearce singled up the middle to score Maile and put the Blue Jays ahead.

The Royals tied it on Alcides Escobar’s homer in the eighth, his first this season.

Toronto had runners at second and third with one out in the ninth, but Kevin McCarthy struck out Curtis Granderson and Justin Smoak in succession to end the threat.

Making his first start of the season, Joe Biagini allowed three runs on six hits, striking out four, in 5 2/3 innings. He plunked Lucas Duda to force in a run in the first.

Abraham Almonte homered in the sixth, the first home run this season from a Royals player other than Moustakas or Duda.

In the first game, Yangervis Solarte homered and drove in four runs and Grichuk went deep for the second time this season.

Solarte’s third homer of the season was a two-run shot off Erik Skoglund (0-2) into the second deck in the first inning.

Jaime Garcia (2-0) allowed back-to-back homers by Moustakas and Duda in the third. He gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings, walking one and striking out five.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: C Russell Martin and 2B Devon Travis started the opener but sat out the nightcap, the only two changes Toronto made to its lineup. … DH Kendrys Morales (right hamstring) is not expected to require a rehab assignment before rejoining the team. Morales went on the disabled list April 10.

ICED OUT

The Blue Jays were rained out twice in Cleveland over the weekend and then faced the first streak of three consecutive postponements in franchise history after chunks of ice fell from the adjacent CN Tower, puncturing several holes in the Rogers Centre roof. The biggest hole, over right field, was roughly 3 feet by 5 feet.

Roads, sidewalks and entrance gates on the east side of the stadium, next to the tower, remained cordoned off Tuesday, forcing detours for fans on foot. The tower itself and several nearby restaurants and attractions were also closed.

Kansas City was also the opponent for the only previous cancellation at Rogers Centre. That happened on April 12, 2001, after a collision between two panels of the stadium’s moving roof.

In the previous doubleheaders at the stadium formerly known as Skydome, Toronto swept the Los Angeles Angels on July 17, 1989, and the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 5, 2001.

DOUBLED UP

Kansas City has two more doubleheaders scheduled this month — Saturday at Detroit and on April 28 against the Chicago White Sox.

UP NEXT

Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-1,1.00 ERA) starts Wednesday’s series finale. He won his previous road start this season, at Cleveland on April 7. Toronto turns to left-hander J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.94), who was originally supposed to start Tuesday’s second game. He gets an extra day of rest after his last start, a 7-1 win at Baltimore on April 9.

— Associated Press —

MWSU men’s golf wins at Central Oklahoma; McCarthy wins individual title

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EDMOND, Okla. – Griffon men’s golf won the Broncho Stampede with an 865 over three rounds at the Rose Creek Golf Course. Patrick McCarthy claimed the individual championship with a 3-under-par 213. It is the second championship of the season for both Missouri Western and McCarthy.

Tom Buffington trailed McCarthy by just three strokes with an even-par 216 and tied for third place. Kevin Kim finished tied for 12th place with a 4-over-par 220. Cole Roberts shot a 68 in the final round and ended the tournament tied for 18th with a 223. Lucas Horseman tied for 27th and carded a 227 to round out the MWSU scorecard.

Missouri Western beat Central Missouri by 14 strokes for the tournament title. McCarthy edged out UCM’s John Bonaobra by a stroke for the individual honor. MWSU is in action next at the MIAA Championships on April 23-25 at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats complete season sweep of Nebraska-Kearney

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The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team picked up a sweep over the University of Nebraska Kearney on Tuesday in Kearney, Ne.

The Bearcats improve to 22-18 overall, 17-8 in conference, while the Lopers fall to 22-18 overall and 15-10 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 9, Nebraska-Kearney 8)
– Northwest scored one in the first, seven in the sixth and one in the ninth inning. The Lopers got two runs in the first, third, fourth and eighth innings.
– The Bearcats had nine runs on ten hits with one error. UNK had eight runs on 14 hits with four errors.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 2-for-5 with one stolen base.
– Landon Figg finished 2-for-5 with one run scored, four RBIs, a double and a grand slam.
– Luke Hassman was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored, a stolen base and drew two walks.
– Hudson Bilodeau went 1-for-4 with a stolen base, three runs scored and drew a walk.
– Aaron Barratt was 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, one RBI, and a run scored.
– Matt Schingel finished 1-for-5 with one RBI.
– Derek Hussey was 1-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.

Game One Key Innings
– To get the Bearcats on the board, Bilodeau reached first after being hit by a pitch and was moved in to scoring position by a sacrifice bunt by Gutierrez. Figg reached safely on a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. Hassman brought in Bilodeau to score with one out, and conclude the scoring for the Cats.

– After an out, Hussey reached safely after being hit by a pitch and Rycraft reached on a fielder’s choice. Bilodeau singled to center field to load the bases for the Cats. With two outs, Figg launched a grand slam over the center field fence to clear the bases and put the Bearcats within one. Hassman would then get hit by a pitch and promptly steal second. Handzlik drew a two out walk and Barratt doubled to right center to bring in Hassman and Handzlik on a fielding error. Schingel then hit a single to left field to score Barratt and put the Bearcats ahead 8-6.

– With a tie game going in to the bottom of the ninth inning, Bilodeau walked and stole second. Gutierrez would move him to third on a single to left field and then steal second. Hassman singled to right field to bring in Bilodeau to give the Bearcats a 9-8 walk-off win.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 13, UNK 4)
– The Bearcats scored four in the first, one in the second and third innings, two in the fifth, one in the eighth and four in the eighth inning. UNK scored two in the first and seventh innings.
– Northwest had 13 runs on 20 hits with one error. The Lopers scored four run on eight hits with four errors.
– Barratt finished the game going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
– Bilodeau went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and a walk.
– Hassman was 3-for-6 with one RBI and he scored two runs.
– Gutierrez finished 2-for-6 with one RBI and one run scored.
– Handzlik went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
– Hussey was 2-for-5 with one RBI, a double and a run scored.
– Logan Rycraft finished 2-for-5 with one RBI, a run scored and a double.
– Figg went 1-for-6, scored two runs and had one RBI.
– Matt Schingel was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
– Nathan Russell picked up the win after throwing five innings, only allowed four hits and he struck out three batters.

Game Two Key Innings
– Bilodeau started the second game of the day with a double down the left line and advanced to third on a single by Gutierrez. Figg would then come up and hit a single to left field to score Bilodeau and put runners on first and third. Hassman followed it up with a single to right center to score Gutierrez and place Figg in scoring position. Handzlik kept the hitting going with a double to left center to score Figg and put Hassman on third. Barratt fin a grounder to second base to score Hassman and give the Bearcats a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

– After an out, Bilodeau would hit his second double of the game and then come around to score on a single to left field by Gutierrez.

– Handzlik and Barratt started the top of the third with a pair of singles and after an out, Hussey reached safely on an error to load the bases. Rycraft reached on a fielder’s choice to move all runners and score Handzlik from third to put the Cats up 6-2.

– Barratt began the fifth inning with a single to center field and quickly moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Schingel. Hussey would then single to left field to move Barratt to third and then bring him home on an error. Rycraft continued the scoring after he doubled to left center to bring in Hussey and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.

– Barratt would again start the inning with a single to left field and move to second on a bunt by Schingel. Hussey brought him in to score on a double down the left field line and put the Bearcats up 9-2.

– In the top of the eighth, Figg reached on a fielding error and moved to second on a single to the shortstop by Hassman. Handzlik would lay down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and reach safely to load the bases. Barratt would bring in Figg with a single to left field and to keep the bases loaded. Schingel singled to right field to score Hassman and Handzlik, and put runners on the corners. On a ground ball to the infield, Barratt was able to score and give the Bearcats a 13-4 lead.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Missouri Southern on Thursday, April 19 at 4 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western softball splits doubleheader with Pitt State

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ST. JOSEPH – It was a tale of two games, once again on Tuesday for Griffon Softball (23-24, 14-8) as the team ran away with game one of a doubleheader before falling in game two to Pittsburg State (19-30, 9-11).

The Griffons used seven-run sixth inning to break a 4-4 tie and run away with game one, 11-4. Shelby Uhl lit the sixth inning fire with her eighth home run of the season, a three-run blast to center. In game two, the offense was held off the board in a 5-0 loss that ended the home portion of the 2018 season.

NOTABLES

  • Missouri Western went 15-9 at home overall, going 9-3 in MIAA games played at the Spring Sports Complex
  • Kaili Hinds had her scoreless innings streak stopped at 29 in game two. After holding the Gorillas off the board for the first three innings, a solo home run to right in the fourth was the first run scored off the freshman since the fifth inning at Central Missouri on March 30
  • Morgan Frost and Rebekah Mueller each had three hits in game one. Both were 3-for-4. Mueller scored two and drove in two. Frost also had a hit in game two.
  • Uhl and Lonnie Groves each drove in three runs in game one
  • The Griffons had five hits in game two and left eight runners on base
  • Missouri Western ended the night tied for fourth in the MIAA with Central Oklahoma. The Griffs were two games back of Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri, which were tied for second.

UP NEXT
The final regular season series come later this week. As most of the season has went, those final four games will not be played as regularly scheduled. The doubleheader at Washburn was moved up to Thursday, April 19 and the Griffs will close the regular season Friday at Emporia State.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou defeats Chicago State for 15th straight non-conference home win

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – On a beautiful Tuesday evening at Taylor Stadium, Mizzou Baseball handled Chicago State in a 5-3 victory. The Mizzou victory was the 15th straight win against non-conference opponents at Taylor Stadium. Senior RF Trey Harris cranked his sixth home run of the season, a two-run blast over the left field fence in the bottom of the third that sparked Mizzou’s offense. The Tigers plated a pair in the fourth and a lone run in the fifth, building a 5-2 advantage after five innings.

The Mizzou bullpen backed up junior RHP Brian Sharp who worked 4.0 innings of two-run ball. Seven Tiger hurlers combined to toss 5.0 innings while allowing only three hits and one run. Mizzou’s collective effort out of the pen held off Chicago State

TURNING POINT

With the game knotted at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Mizzou took advantage of a two-out Cougar error and scratched across a pair of runs. 3B Alex Samples dribbled a ball to the right side and Chicago State 2B Daulton Ryans botched his throw to first, allowing the Mizzou inning to continue. Following the error, Harris and LF Zach Hanna drew back-to-back bases loaded walks, giving Mizzou a 4-2 lead.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“It is simple, we just have to be better. We were not very good offensively today. We were fortunate that we were able to draw some walks and we took advantage of an error – we scored a couple runs there with one hit. There are two innings where we scored two runs with just one hit. We just have to be better offensively.”

TOP TIGERS

  • Trey Harris led the way offensively for Mizzou, ripping a two-run shot and also smacking a first inning single. Harris now has 13 multi-hit games this season and eight multi-RBI performances. The right fielder also made a web gem on a slick sliding play in the sixth inning.
  • Junior LF Zach Hanna reached base four times, twice with a single while also drawing a walk and reaching on a hit by pitch. Hanna is now 7-for-his-last-15 and has seven multi-hit games this season. Hanna also swiped a bag, his fourth of the year.
  • Senior RP Andy Toelken capped the ballgame with a four-out save, his second save of the season. Toelken held the Cougars hitless and picked up a strikeout. He has now allowed only 13 runs over 38 innings of work this season.

NOTES

  • Mizzou is now 6-0 vs. Chicago State all-time.
  • Mizzou is now 27-2 against non-conference opponents at home under head coach Steve Bieser.
  • Mizzou has extended their non-conference home win streak to 16 games.
  • Mizzou has improved its record to 17-5 when they hold their opponents to three or fewer runs.
  • All nine of Mizzou’s starters made it safely on base during the game.
  • Senior OF Trey Harris hit his team-leading sixth home run in the third inning, a two-run shot.
  • Harris also recorded his eighth multi-RBI game of the season, the most on the team.
  • Junior OF Zach Hanna recorded two hits in the game, his seventh multi-hit game of the season.

UP NEXT

Mizzou hosts Vanderbilt in a three-game, Thursday-Saturday series this weekend at Taylor Stadium.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Cardinals defeat Cubs for fifth straight win

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CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Wainwright outpitched Tyler Chatwood in frigid conditions at Wrigley Field, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Tuesday night for their fifth consecutive victory.

The gametime temperature was 35 degrees, and a 10 mph wind made it feel like 29. There were heaters on in each dugout, and the announced crowd of 35,103 bundled up in winter coats, hats and blankets.

Matt Carpenter had two hits and three RBI for St. Louis in the first meeting of the season between the longtime rivals. The Cardinals went 5-14 against the NL Central champion Cubs last year, including just one win in nine games at Wrigley.

Each starting pitcher struggled with control, but Wainwright (1-2) deftly navigated his way through five effective innings. The 6-foot-7 right-hander allowed an unearned run and four hits, struck out five and walked four while improving to 11-2 in 24 career games at Chicago’s iconic neighborhood ballpark.

Chatwood (0-3) issued seven walks in 4 2/3 innings, one off his career high. He struck out seven and yielded two runs and one hit.

Javier Baez hit a two-run homer off Greg Holland in the eighth, but Chicago lost for the third time in four games. The Cubs hadn’t played since Saturday after their series finale against Atlanta and Game 1 against St. Louis were postponed due to lousy weather.

Chatwood’s wildness caught up to him in the third. After Dexter Fowler and Tommy Pham opened the inning with consecutive walks, Carpenter hit an RBI double off the base of the wall in right. Marcell Ozuna then drove in Pham with a grounder to shortstop.

The Cardinals added three more after Pedro Strop retired the first two batters in the eighth. Paul DeJong drove a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left for his fifth homer, snapping a 1-for-16 slide, and Carpenter added a two-run single.

After Holland faltered in the bottom half, leaving with no outs and a runner on first, Tyler Lyons got Jason Heyward to pop out before Bud Norris finished for his fourth save. Willson Contreras singled with two out in the ninth, but Norris struck out Kyle Schwarber looking to end the game.

RIZZO RETURNS

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was hit by Wainwright’s first pitch to him in his return to the lineup after being sidelined by lower back tightness. He went 0 for 3 with a walk.

Infielder/outfielder Efren Navarro was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Rizzo on the roster.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Jose Martinez started at first after he left Sunday’s 3-2 victory at Cincinnati following a collision with Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart. He went 0 for 4 with a walk.

Cubs: RF Ben Zobrist was scratched with back tightness. Ian Happ replaced Zobrist in the leadoff spot and started in center field. Jason Heyward moved from center to right.

UP NEXT

Cardinals right-hander Luke Weaver and Cubs left-hander Jon Lester are slated to pitch Wednesday afternoon, but there is more inclement weather in the forecast. Weaver (2-0, 2.08 ERA) made his major league debut at Wrigley Field on Aug. 13, 2016. Lester (1-0, 4.40 ERA) went 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts against St. Louis last year.

— Associated Press —

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