Afternoon Box Score: Cubs Trump Cards

By Matt Motyka in News on Apr 17, 2009 10:00PM

It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon by a score of 8-7. A two-run jack off the bat of Alfonso Soriano was difference maker, as the Cubs took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth. Chicago was steady at the plate, scoring in five different innings but never more than two runs at a time. Starter Carlos Zambrano nearly offset their offensive success with a forgettable outing on the hill. Z surrendered nine hits, three homers and seven earned runs, but hung tough and chewed up seven innings of work. Aaron Heilman came in to pitch the eighth, earning the win, and Carlos Marmol closed out the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. In a game that saw every Cubs batter reach base at least once, Aramis Ramirez swung the hottest stick, going three-for-four and collecting three RBIs. The Cubs face the Cardinals again tomorrow afternoon in their first Saturday game at Wrigley this season.