Full highlights and recap from the NLDS Game 2 between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.
The St. Louis Cardinals won the first game of the National League Divisional Series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday night. With a solo home run in the first inning, it looked like the Cardinals were on their way to a 2-0 series in the lead.
But then the Cubs and manager Joe Maddon got creative. A throwing error got Austin Jackson to second base, and then he stole third. That is when pitcher Kyle Hendricks dialed up a bunt for the squeeze play to bring Jackson home and tie the game.
Another throwing error moved Miguel Montero, who had been walked between Jackson and Hendricks, to third. That’s when Maddon and the Cubs dialed up another squeeze play from Addison Russell to bring Montero home.
The Cubs ended the second inning with Hendricks reaching home on a single from Dexter Fowler, and Jorge Soler hitting a two-run homer to extend the lead to 5-1. The Cubs added another run in the third.
Then the St. Louis Cardinals seemed to find their groove, getting back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning from Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk, pulling within three runs of the Cubs.
It wouldn’t be enough, strong relief pitching from Travis Wood, Trevor Cahill and Hector Rondon sealed the win for the Cubs. It levels the series at one game apiece.
It is also the Cubs’ first Divisional Series win since 2003.
Three stars
- Kyle Hendricks, SP, Cubs – Sure, Hendricks gave up three home runs. But he had an RBI and scored a run in a crucial second inning.
- Jorge Soler, RF, Cubs – Soler’s two-run homer extended the Cubs lead in a big second inning, and effectively served as the game-winning run. He was also walked twice.
- Trevor Cahill, RP, Cubs – Cahill came in for the eighth inning and was dominant, throwing just eight pitches, seven of which were strikes, to bring them safely to into the ninth inning.
Highlights
Here are the back-to-back squeeze plays.
Jorge Soler’s two-run homer to extend the lead to 5-1 in the second inning.
Next Game
The series heads to The Friendly Confines on Monday for Game 3 of the NLDS. Here is the schedule for the rest of the series, times in ET.
Game 3 – Mon, Oct 12 | vs | Cardinals | 6:07 PM | |
Game 4 – Tue, Oct 13 | vs | Cardinals | 4:37 PM | |
Game 5 – Thu, Oct 15 | @ | Cardinals | 4:37 PM |