Sep 15, 2007, 20:34 GMT
St. Louis, MO - Yadier Molina drove in two runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in the nightcap of a day- night doubleheader at Busch Stadium.
In the opener of the twin bill, Alfonso Soriano came up big for Chicago and belted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning, as the Cubs came back to top the Cardinals, 3-2.
The night contest, though, belonged to St. Louis and starter Joel Pineiro (5-3), who gave up three runs on seven hits in seven innings and retired 12 straight after the third inning. Jason Isringhausen picked up his 29th save of the season.
Brendan Ryan and Scott Spiezio each had two hits for the Cardinals, who ended a nine-game losing streak.
Sean Marshall (7-8) started for Chicago and lasted just 2 2/3 frames, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits.
Soriano launched a two-run homer for the Cubs, who had a four-game win streak snapped and lead Milwaukee by one game in the NL Central. The Brewers defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-3, on Saturday.
The Cubs struck early and went up 1-0 in the first. With one out, Jacque Jones and Derrek Lee hit back-to-back singles before Aramis Ramirez's base hit to left plated Jones.
Soriano's two-out homer to right in the second upped Chicago's lead to 3-0.
St. Louis scored four times in the third to take the lead for good. With one out, Ryan Ludwick struck out swinging, but Jason Kendall didn't handle the pitch, allowing Ludwick to be safe at first. Jim Edmonds followed with a walk and Molina plated two runs with a double. A base hit by Spiezio brought Molina in and Pineiro moved Spiezio to second with a sacrifice bunt. Michael Wuertz then replaced Marshall and Miguel Cairo greeted him with a run-scoring triple to give the Cardinals a 4-3 edge.
Pineiro then dominated and retired 12 straight before being replaced at the start of the seventh by Russ Springer. Soriano reached first on Spiezio's fielding error, but Springer battled back and recorded three straight outs.
In the ninth, Isringhausen worked around a one-out single to close out the victory for St. Louis.
Game Notes
Both clubs ended with eight hits...Soriano has 27 home runs and 58 RBI on the season...Kendall ended with two errors...Attendance was 45,894.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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