Peralta Hits 2-Out, 2-Run HR In 9th As Cardinals Stun Cubs, 6-5
CHICAGO (AP) — Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals jolted the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals trailed 5-4 and Cubs reliever Pedro Strop (1-4) quickly retired the first two batters in the ninth.
Matt Carpenter followed with a four-pitch walk and Peralta connected on a 1-2 pitch, hitting a drive that barely cleared the wall in left field for his 12th home run.
Miguel Socolovich (3-1) got two outs for the win. Trevor Rosenthal gave up a two-out double to Addison Russell in the ninth, but struck out Dexter Fowler for his 25th save in 26 chances.
The Cubs took a 5-4 in the sixth on Miguel Montero's three-run double. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and catcher Yadier Molina were ejected after Montero's hit, arguing that the pitch before the double should've been called a strike instead of a ball.
St. Louis starter Michael Wacha gave up five earned runs and seven hits in six innings. He allowed three singles to load the bases for Montero.
Wacha also had an RBI singles.
Cubs reliever Travis Wood pitched three hitless innings and Hector Rondon worked a scoreless eighth before Strop came in.
Chicago starter Jason Hammel exited with tightness in his left hamstring after pitching a hitless first inning.
Dan Johnson, promoted from Triple-A before the game, hit RBI singles in the second and fourth innings. Mark Reynolds and Randal Grichuk had back-to-back triples before Johnson's second hit.
The Cubs scored twice in the fourth when Anthony Rizzo singled, Kris Bryant tripled and Jorge Soler had an infield single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong sat out Wednesday's game, following a play in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday in which he hit his head on the ground while making a catch. Trainers had Wong riding a stationary bike to elevate his heart rate and taking tests, and Wong said he felt much better. "I woke up this morning feeling fine," Wong said. Matheny said Wong was "asymptomatic" for concussion. "That's a good sign," Matheny said, though it's uncertain when Wong will be back in the lineup.
Cubs: Hammel threw 12 pitches and retired the Cardinals in order.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (9-3, 2.70) will start Thursday night at Pittsburgh. The Cards are 13-3 in his 16 starts this season. Martinez is 0-2 in three starts against the Pirates.
Cubs: After an off day, RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.82) will start the opener of a three-game series against the White Sox at Wrigley Field. Hendricks pitched 7 1-3 shutout innings and got the win in his last start, beating the Marlins 2-0. He has pitched a career-best 15 1-3 scoreless innings. He'll be opposed by LHP Carlos Rodon (3-2, 4.18).
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