The summary
Jorge Soler’s two home runs led the Cubs to a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals, spoiling Yadier Molina’s return from the disabled list. Soler hit a game-tying solo shot in the seventh and a mammoth two-run blast in the four-run eighth.
On the mound
Kyle Hendricks allowed two first-inning runs before throwing five shutout innings in a no-decision. He finished August 4-0. Neil Ramirez pitched one scoreless inning to notch the victory. Because of wild pitch, Justin Grimm notched four strikeouts in the ninth.
At the plate
Four home runs: Luis Valbuena (14th), Soler’s pair (second and third) and Arismendy Alcantara (6).
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Generation next
Hendricks on whether the Cubs’ rookies understand the rivalry with Cardinals: “Definitely, because the older guys put it into us that we like to come in here and beat these guys.”
The number
1.545. In three games, Soler is hitting .636 with a .667 OBP and a 1.545 slugging percentage.
The quote
Manager Rick Renteria on whether victories matter more than seeing the players’ progress: “To me, numbers are the results of performance, so where it all ends up at the end of the season we’ll know.”
Up next
Doubleheader: Cubs (LH Doubront , 0-0, 0.00) at Cardinals (RH Masterson (2-2, 7.43, 1:15 p.m, CSN; Cubs (LH Wada, 4-1, 2.56) at Cardinals (LH Gonzales, 0-2, 7.07), 7:15 p.m., CSN.