The White Sox wrapped up a 19-series stretch in which they played teams with winning records.
Thanks to a 5-1 loss by the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Kansas City Royals, the Cardinals find themselves six games up on the Pirates once again. Both Abreu and Melky Cabrera hit back to back singles to score both base runners and give the White Sox a two run lead. On a 2-2 count, Molina sends the two-seamer off the end of his bat into the far right hand corner for his first triple this season, clearing the bags for a three RBI to take the lead, 3-2.
Cardinals reliever Miguel Socolovich (4-1) worked the seventh inning for the win.
“I’m sure I’ve had (a previous) time ‘This is baffling, the worst it’s ever been, ‘” LaRoche said. Zach Duke (3-4) got two outs in the eighth before he was replaced by Robertson, and Tyler Flowers struck out three times in addition to his costly miscue behind the plate that put Heyward on in the eighth. St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal pitched a one-two-three ninth for his 29th save.
It was another heartbreaking loss for the last-place White Sox (42-50), who have dropped four consecutive and six of seven. Manager Robin Ventura went to his consistent bullpen with a 2-0 lead after a strong start from his starter John Danks.
Neither Lynn nor Danks figured in the final decision.
“We were attacking the zone with the fastball and (pulling) away with the breaking ball”, Molina said of Lynn.
Chicago scored twice in the sixth inning to break the shutout. Tyler Saladino would record the first out as he grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Eaton getting thrown out at second.
Cardinals: Holliday was the designated hitter for the second straight day. Saladino then looked at a called third strike, ending the inning.
St. Louis missed a scoring chance in the fifth after left fielder Stephen Piscotty’s first career double pushed Molina to third with two outs. After a bouncer to the mound for the second out, Herrera lined the 11th pitch he saw to left-center to drive in Brown.
On Thursday, which on the original Major League schedule is a day off for the Cardinals, the Red Birds return to Busch to complete a game with the Kansas City Royals which was postponed due to a rain delay earlier in the season. If there is a chance for Colon to correct his unusually high 4.86 ERA on the season tonight could be it at home where his ERA is nearly 1.5 runs better than it is on the road. First base has been in a state of flux but still has been a productive spot for the Cardinals as four starters have produced a collective 58 RBIs, the most of any position…. Chicago swept three games at home in 2006 while the Cardinals won two of three at home in 2012….
Jeff Samardzija appears to be the most enticing and available trade option possessed by the Chicago White Sox.
White Sox John Danks (5-8/4.66 ERA) held the Cardinals scoreless in his 6.2 innings only giving up five hits and had five strikeouts.
