The Cardinals snapped the Cubs' nine-game winning streak Friday with a 4-0 victory in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
The division rivals came into the game having never faced each other in the postseason, and the Cardinals ultimately proved experience matters against a young Cubs lineup.
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John Lackey stole the show in a tight pitching duel with former teammate Jon Lester. Lackey tossed 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball after carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Addison Russell broke up the no-hit bid with a clean single up the middle. Lackey only gave up two hits and struck out five.
Kevin Siegrist relieved Lackey and struck out both batters he faced to end the eighth inning. Closer Trevor Rosenthal gave the home crowd a tense moment in the ninth. He walked pinch hitter Jorge Soler and gave a up a singe to Kyle Schwarber, moving Soler to third base, but struck out Kris Bryant to end the threat.
Lester went toe to toe with Lackey most of the night. He gave up just five hits and three runs (all earned) while striking out nine in 7 1/3 innings. He allowed a run in the first when Matt Holliday drove in fellow outfielder Stephen Piscotty with a single. The rest of the damage occurred in the eighth. Thomas Pham hit a pinch-hit solo home run with one out. Lester then left the game after walking the next batter, Matt Carpenter.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought in Pedro Strop to replace Lester, but the right-hander served up a two-run shot to Piscotty to put the game out of reach for Chicago.
In addition to the win, Cardinals fans had another reason to celebrate. Catcher Yadier Molina returned to the lineup after missing most of the final few weeks of the regular season with a sprained left thumb. Wearing a brace, he went 0 for 3 at the plate.
Takeaway: The Cubs need to prove they can win a big game without Jake Arrieta on the mound. Their ace has led them to this position, but he can't pitch every night. Someone else needs to step up if they're going to come back in this series. The Cardinals, on the other hand, look like a well-oiled machine at this point. The postseason is like a second home for them, a familiar place where they vacation as the year winds down. Their experience proved to be the difference in Game 1.
What's Next: Game 2 Saturday at 5:37 p.m. on TBS — The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks (8-7, 3.95 ERA), who hasn't allowed a run in his last two starts spanning 12 innings, to the mound to face off against Jaime Garcia (10-6, 2.43 ERA) at Busch Stadium.