Cardinals beat Cubs 3-1 in doubleheader opener
CHICAGO (AP) — Finally back on the field, the St. Louis Cardinals are rounding into form in a hurry.
Brad Miller hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and St. Louis beat the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Monday in the opener of an unusual five-game series between the NL Central rivals.
The Cardinals won for the third time in four games since returning from a coronavirus outbreak that derailed their season, leaving them idle for weeks and resulting in 18 confirmed cases in the organization. They swept a doubleheader against the White Sox on Saturday before dropping the series finale Sunday.
The reigning division champions had a three-game series against the Cubs postponed while they waited for clearance to play again — leading to the five-game set that includes two doubleheaders and two “home” games for the Cards at Wrigley Field.
The opener was tied at 1 when St. Louis loaded the bases with none out in the seventh against Kyle Hendricks. After Dylan Carlson bounced into a forceout at home, Hendricks (3-2) was replaced by Rowan Wick.
“I felt good all day executing pitches,” Hendricks said. “Just really upset, those first three at-bats in the seventh inning, all three were just terrible.”
Miller then hit a liner toward the gap in left-center. Center fielder Albert Almora Jr. made a leaping try, but it landed out of his reach on the warning track. Tyler O'Neill and Matt Carpenter scored before Carlson was thrown out at the plate.
Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless inning for the win in the doubleheader opener. Andrew Miller got three outs for his second save.
Ian Happ homered for Chicago in its fourth straight loss. Hendricks was charged with three runs and three hits.
“Kyle's been throwing the ball great for us, as expected,” manager David Ross said.
Kwang Hyun Kim pitched 3 2/3 innings of three-hit ball in his first start for St. Louis. He signed an $8 million, two-year contract with the Cards in December.
He wore the wrong cap in the first inning, but got the right one on in time for the second.
“One of my trainers came to me and didn't say anything, but he just gave me a new cap. He put the new cap next to me,” Kim said through a translator. “At first, I was like puzzled, but then I realized the mistake.”
Hendricks retired his first seven batters before Dexter Fowler hit a drive to right in the third for his second homer.
The Cubs wasted a prime scoring opportunity when Happ struck out on three pitches and David Bote grounded out in the first, leaving the bases loaded. But Happ bounced back with a leadoff drive to left in the fourth for his fourth homer.
Happ was a late addition to the Game 1 lineup after right fielder Steven Souza Jr. was scratched with right hamstring tightness.
WORTH NOTING
The Cardinals optioned right-hander Roel Ramírez to their alternate training site a day after he allowed four consecutive homers in his major league debut. The 25-year-old Ramírez will remain with the team in Chicago on its taxi squad.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martínez and INF Edmundo Sosa have been cleared to begin baseball activities. Sosa tested positive for the coronavirus, and Martínez was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason. Manager Mike Shildt said the team has “multiple players” pending review by Major League Baseball, including C Yadier Molina and INF Paul DeJong. ... LHP Austin Gomber “will be activated soon, with an eye toward” Wednesday's doubleheader, Shildt said. Gomber has not tested positive for COVID-19, but he was placed on the injured list because of a potential concern in contact tracing.
Cubs: LHP José Quintana (thumb surgery) threw 61 pitches over four innings in a simulated game Sunday. Ross said the team is finalizing the day for his next sim game. “All things seem well and good,” Ross said. ... RHP Adbert Alzolay was in the mix for Game 2 of the doubleheader before he took a ball off his forearm a few days ago at the team's alternate training site in South Bend, Indiana. He could start one of the games in Wednesday's doubleheader.
UP NEXT
Alex Reyes started Game 2 for the Cardinals, and right-hander Tyson Miller made his major league debut for the Cubs. Miller was recalled from the team's alternate site to serve as the 29th man for the doubleheader.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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