David DeJesus keys Cubs victory over Cardinals

Chicago, IL, United States (4E Sports) – David DeJesus delivered a walkoff RBI single in the 11th inning as the Chicago Cubs spoiled Chris Carpenter’s season debut with a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

The loss snapped St. Louis’ four-game winning streak and cut its lead for the second National League Wild Card spot over the Milwaukee Brewers to two games.

The Cubs began the 11th inning with a single by Welington Castillo against reliever Joe Kelly (5-7) before he was pulled out for pinch runner Brett Jackson.

Jackson advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dave Sappelt and to third on a flyout by Steve Clevenger before DeJesus knocked Kelly’s 0-2 pitch to right field that brought home the game-winning run.

DeJesus’ game-winning hit capped the Cubs’ comeback from a 4-2 deficit in the ninth inning sparked by a two-out, two-run homer by Darwin Barney off Cardinals reliever Fernando Salas.

Barney finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, DeJesus finished with four hits and two runs scored and Alfonso Soriano collected his career-best 104th RBI for the Cubs.

Alberto Cabrera (1-1) pitched a scoreless 11th, including two strikeouts, to earn the win. Joe Kelly (5-7) incurred the loss after giving up the game-winning hit to DeJesus.

Cubs starter Chris Volstad allowed three runs in five innings, including Yadier Molina’s drive in the first frame that gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Volstad surrendered a sacrifice fly to Allen Craig that scored Carlos Beltran for a 2-0 Cardinals lead.

Barney keyed the Cubs’ two-run third with an RBI single and Soriano added a run-scoring double to tie the count at two.

Shortstop Pete Kozma stole home in the fourth inning to break a 2-2 tie and Daniel Descalso’s deep double to left center in the eighth scored Matt Carpenter gave the Cardinals a 4-2 advantage.

The Cubs, however, sparked a ninth-inning rally to spoil Carpenter’s season debut.

In five innings, the right-hander allowed two runs and struck out two on 77 pitches, retiring eight of the final nine batters he faced.

A shoulder injury forced Carpenter to undergo surgery on July 19 and was declared out for season. Undaunted, he worked his way from surgery and returned to give the Cardinals an additional arm in their rotation as they battle for a spot in the postseason.

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