Bote’s two-run single leads Cubs to split with Cardinals
David Bote hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh and final inning, Adbert Alzolay pitched five solid innings in his first start of the season, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Wednesday night to split a doubleheader in Chicago.
St. Louis’ Brad Miller hit a tying RBI single in the bottom of the sixth against Jeremy Jeffress (2-1). But the Cubs quickly answered.
Playing as the visitor in the nightcap because the game was a makeup from a postponed series in St. Louis from earlier this month, the Cubs loaded the bases against Andrew Miller (0-1) on singles by Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras and Nico Hoerner with one out. Bote, whose pinchhit, hit three-run homer won the second game of Monday’s doubleheader, then lined a single to center against Giovanny Gallegos, making it 4-2 and propelling the Cubs to their third win in four games.
Craig Kimbrel, who lost the closer’s job after a shaky start to the season, worked the seventh for his first save. He struck out Kolten Wong after hitting Tommy Edman with two out to close out an unusual five-game, three-day series.
In the opener, Matt Carpenter
belted a first-inning grand slam and the Cardinals beat the Cubs 9-3. St. Louis held Chicago to two hits in the seven-inning game even though shaky starter Jack Flaherty only recorded five outs.
Alzolay gave the Cubs what they were looking for in his third major league start, holding the reigning division champions to an unearned run and two hits. The 25-yearold right-hander struck out six and walked one after being called up from Chicago’s alternate site in South Bend, Ind.
Johan Oviedo went five innings for St. Louis in his major league debut, giving up two runs and two hits.
RED SOX 6, PHILLIES 3 >> The Boston Red Sox ended their nine-game losing streak, with Rafael Devers homering and driving in three runs to beat visiting Philadelphia.
Devers finished with three hits. Jackie Bradley Jr. drove in two runs to help Boston avoid its first 10-game losing streak since 2014.
Philadelphia had won four straight after a 13-6 romp to open the two-game series Tuesday.
BLUE JAYS 5, ORIOLES 2 >> Randal Grichuk extended his recent power surge with two home runs, and visiting Toronto completed a three-game sweep of fading Baltimore.
Grichuk hit a solo shot in the second inning and put Toronto ahead for good with a two-run drive in the sixth. He has homered in four straight starts, and all six of his long balls this season have come over the last six games.
In his last at-bat in the eighth, Grichuk hit a liner left that was caught at the warning track. Regardless, he’s batting .424 during an eightgame hitting streak.
ROYALS 4, REDS 0 >> Brad Keller pitched hitless ball into the sixth inning and extended his shutout streak, leading Kansas City over Cincinnati in the first game of a doubleheader in Kansas City, Mo.
Keller (3-0) has won all of this starts this season after coming back from a positive test for COVID-19 and hasn’t permitted a run in 17 2/3 innings.
METS 5, MARLINS 3 >> Michael Conforto hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth inning, and visiting New York beat Miami for the third night in a row.