The Cubs enter the 2015 season with high expectations. They were active in the offseason and have a plethora of young talent.
They sent their new ace, Jon Lester, to the mound to face the rival Cardinals on Sunday night at Wrigley Field. The opening night game was the lone contest on the MLB slate before the regular season begins in earnest on Monday.
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The Cardinals got to Lester early, making him look uncomfortable in a 3-0 victory over the Cubs.
The Cardinals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Matt Holliday’s single to right scored Jason Heyward, who had a successful Cardinals debut. The former Braves outfielder hit a pair of doubles, in the first and third, and finished 3-of-5. Holliday, Matt Carpenter and Jon Jay had two hits apiece.
After Lester issued a one-out walk to Kolten Wong in the second, Carpenter’s line drive to right scored Wong to make it a 2-0 St. Louis lead.
The Cubs got the leadoff man aboard in each of the first three innings off Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright. The three-time All-Star was able to work out of each jam thanks to five strikeouts. Wainwright struck out six over six innings to get the win. Wainwright scattered five hits, but the Cardinals relievers kept the Cubs hitless over the final three innings. Trevor Rosenthal struck out the side in the ninth to close out the victory.
Several defensive miscues in the outfield plagued Chicago. A Holliday blooper to right fell in front of Jorge Soler, who then short-hopped a throw to second base in an attempt to throw out Heyward. That throw allowed Carpenter to score from third.
The Cardinals worked a double-steal to put runners at second and third. Lester got Jhonny Peralta to pop out, but was pulled after just 4 1/3 innings in his Cubs debut.
The Cardinals had four stolen bases on opening day for the first time since at least 1900, according to Elias Sports. They were also the first team with four steals on opening day since the Brewers swiped four to begin the 2009 season.
Former Tigers reliever Phil Coke struck out Matt Adams and Wong in his first Cubs appearance. Former Cardinals closer Jason Motte worked a perfect sixth.
The Cubs paid tribute to the late Ernie Banks before the game and the unfinished outfield bleachers were covered with large portraits of Banks. His twin sons, Joey and Jerry, threw out the first pitch and sang the traditional “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch.
Forever in our hearts. #LetsPlayTwo pic.twitter.com/97yoUb3jMA
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 6, 2015