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Game three of the first-ever Cardinals-Cubs playoff series was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel. On one side, we had Michael Wacha, the kid that helped carry this team through injuries in multiple seasons. On the other, we had Jake Arrieta, the hottest pitcher in the league, coming off of a complete game shutout in the Wild Card game in hostile Pittsburgh. Like we always have in baseball, this game was full of surprises, and by the fourth inning, all preconceived notions went out the window.
The pitching matchup we did get was nowhere near as impressive as we thought. Wacha lasted four and a third, allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks, including three of those hits being the deep ball. Arrieta didn’t last much longer. In five and two thirds, he also allowed four earned, but only one long ball and two walks. His stuff was there at times, as he did strike out nine Cardinals. These two didn’t exactly get much help from mother nature, as the windy city earned its nickname.
The first of Chicago’s eight runs, and franchise record six home runs, came on a Kyle Schwarber solo shot to center in the bottom of the second. While business would pick up later, this was the lone run for the first portion of the game.
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St. Louis would answer in the top of the fourth. A double to deep left from Jhonny Peralta scored Stephen Piscotty and put Matt Holliday on third. Tommy Pham then grounded out, which brought Holliday home and would be the last run of the inning.
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It didn’t take long for the Cubs to answer. The very next half-inning, Starlin Castro launched a bomb to left center to even the score. In the fifth inning, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo each went yard, Bryant’s scoring two and Rizzo’s a solo shot, making it a 5-2 lead for Chicago.
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The fireworks only continued in the top of the sixth. With Holliday on base, Jason Heyward homered to left, bringing the Cardinals within a one run deficit. Despite the hope this gave Mike Matheny‘s team, this would be the end of the offense for the Redbirds until desperation time in the ninth. From here on out, this night would belong to the Cubbies.
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In the Bottom of the sixth, with Chris Coghlan on second, Jorge Soler homered to center to stretch the lead to 7-4. Two innings later, Dexter Fowler went deep to right for a solo shot, Chicago’s eighth run. The first game in Wrigley this postseason could not have gone any better. All that was left was to hold of a Cardinal rally.
In the top of the ninth, St. Louis needed four runs to come back and even force extra innings. It didn’t start well, as they were down to two outs with a man on second. Stephen Piscotty, who homered in game one, did so again to give the Redbirds their fifth and sixth runs. This would be rendered pointless, as Matt Carpenter flied out to end the game.
Player of the Game: The Wind
As mentioned earlier, the Windy City earned it’s nickname in Game 3. Our own Kristi Loucks was at the game, and predicted the slugfest an hour prior to first pitch. The prophecy of “the wind is blowing out at Wrigley… could be some bombs,” was an understatement. Both teams raked all night, but it was the big bats of Chicago that prevailed.
Game 4 Chi leads 2-1, 4:37 ET
Though it didn’t happen as expected, Arrieta beat St. louis. Now down 2-1, the Cardinals have to win two in a row to advance to the NLCS. That is a very tall task, considering the momentum Joe Maddon‘s squad currently possesses. It doesn’t help that Game 4 remains in Chicago, who will start Jason Hammel. John Lackey, who had a huge Game 1, will get the start on three days rest for St. Louis.
