Cubs top Cards to extend NL Central lead

Sep 15, 2007, 3:02 GMT

St. Louis, MO - Carlos Zambrano tossed eight strong innings to help the Chicago Cubs down the slumping St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3, in the opener of a four-game set at Busch Stadium.

Cliff Floyd's homer in the seventh put the Cubs ahead for good and Daryle Ward's pinch-hit three-run double in the ninth proved important, as Chicago created some much-needed breathing room. Mark DeRosa also drove in a run for the Cubs, who have won three straight and increased their lead in the NL Central to 1 1/2 games over the Brewers. Milwaukee lost, 6-5, at home to Cincinnati Friday night.

Zambrano (16-12) allowed just one run -- a homer to Albert Pujols -- on four hits, striking out three and walking two. The right-hander has won two straight since ending a five-game losing streak to pick up his career-high tying 16th win of the season.

Ryan Dempster got into trouble in the ninth and had to give way to Bob Howry, who got the final out to record his eighth save of the season.

Pujols had two hits for St. Louis, which has dropped eight straight and fell six games behind the Cubs in the division. Jim Edmonds and Ryan Ludwick also homered for the Cardinals.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (13-11) suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. The right-hander dropped his second straight start, adding three strikeouts and two walks to his final line.

After Ward's bases-loaded double gave the Cubs a 5-1 lead in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals made it interesting in the bottom of the inning. Edmonds homered with one out and Ludwick a two-out blast to draw within two runs. Dempster was lifted in favor of Howry after Yadier Molina singled and that didn't stop St. Louis.

Russell Branyan greeted Howry with a pinch-hit single and So Taguchi's pinch base hit loaded the bases. However, Aaron Miles grounded out to short to end the game.

Chicago got on the board in the fourth inning. After Aramis Ramirez doubled with one out, he scored on DeRosa's two-out single.

St. Louis tied the game in the sixth when Pujols homered, but Floyd's homer to right in the seventh gave the Cubs the lead for good.

In the ninth, pinch-hitting for Zambrano with the bases loaded, Ward drove a Jason Isringhausen offering into the left-center field gap to clear the bases.

Game Notes

The Cardinals reinstated Scott Spiezio to the roster prior to the game. Spiezio left the club five weeks ago due to a substance abuse problem he sought treatment for. Spiezio ended 0-for-2...Rick Ankiel ended 0-for-4 and now has just one hit in his last 14 at-bats...These two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday before ending the series on Sunday.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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