Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus had four hits on Friday,
including a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the
Chicago Cubs rallied late to edge the playoff-hopeful St. Louis Cardinals,
5-4, in the opener of a three-game series at rainy Wrigley Field.
Darwin Barney sent the game into extra innings with a two-out, two-run homer
off Fernando Salas in the bottom of the ninth, robbing Chris Carpenter of a
win in his season debut.
Carpenter hadn't appeared on a big-league mound since winning Game 7 of the
World Series against the Texas Rangers last October. The veteran right-
hander wasn't expected to pitch this season after shoulder issues led to a
surgical procedure in July.
Instead, Carpenter held the Cubs to a pair of runs over five innings in his
return. He threw 77 pitches and left with a 3-2 lead.
Daniel Descalso tacked on an eighth-inning RBI double for the Cardinals while
Shelby Miller, Sam Freeman, Trevor Rosenthal and Edward Mujica held Chicago
off the board before giving way to Salas in the ninth.
After two quick outs, DeJesus kept the Cubs alive with a bloop single and
Barney fell behind 1-2 before sending a fastball deep and gone to left field.
Alberto Cabrera (1-1) faced the minimum in the 11th and Wellington Castillo
led off the home half with a single before moving to third base on a sacrifice
bunt and fly out.
DeJesus then ripped an 0-2 changeup from Joe Kelly (5-7) through the right
side of the infield to halt Chicago's four-game slide.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, saw their four-game win streak come to an end. They
now hold a two-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL's final wild
card spot.
The Sports Network