Sat May 3 00:49:33 2008

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Schumaker's HR in 11th lifts Cardinals over Cubs

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Skip Schumaker hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the 11th inning to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the Chicago Cubs, 5-3, in the opener of a three-game set from Busch Stadium.

Yadier Molina had a double and ended with two RBI for the Cardinals, who have won three in a row and five of their last six contests. Brendan Ryan was responsible for the other run batted in.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright was not a factor in the decision, despite hurling 6 1/3 innings and giving up just one run on four hits. Ron Villone (1-0) got the win as he yielded just one hit in 2 1/3 frames on the hill.

Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-6, although he had all three RBI for the Cubs, who have dropped two in a row and four of their last five. Geovany Soto was the only Cub to record two hits in defeat.

Rich Hill started for Chicago, but only lasted two-thirds of an inning and was touched for one run on four walks. Chad Fox (0-1), who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day, was dealt the loss after he surrendered the walk-off homer.

The Cubs managed to make it a new game in the top of the ninth. Jason Isringhausen beaned lead-off man Reed Johnson, and with one out Soriano belted a home run to left field, which knotted things up at three.

Kerry Wood came in for the ninth and got Rick Ankiel, Albert Pujols and Troy Glaus to go down in order, as the game headed for extra innings.

Neither club could muster a hit in the 10th.

Aaron Miles got on with a pinch-hit single in the 11th, and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Fox. Ryan put down a perfect sac bunt to put the runner on third. Schumaker hit a home run to right field, and the Cardinals won in dramatic fashion.

"I was looking for a pitch to drive and was lucky enough to get one," said Schumaker. "With this big crowd and first place, it was really good to get this win."

Hill got into a jam in the first inning, walking the bases full of Cardinals. After issuing another walk to Molina, which plated Ankiel, Michael Wuertz took over on the mound for Hill and recorded the final out. St. Louis was on top 1-0 after the first inning was in the books.

St. Louis tacked on another run in the second, as Wainwright doubled to lead off. Ryan then smacked an RBI single to center.

The Cubs got on the board in the third, as Soto led off with a double. Carlos Zambrano came in to pinch-hit for Wuertz and made it first and third with a single. Soriano grounded into a force, but Soto was able to cross home plate, and Chicago was within 2-1.

The offenses went dormant for the next few innings, until Ankiel reached base on an error from Derrek Lee. Pujols then worked a single from Bob Howry, and Molina hit a ground-rule double, which Soriano misplayed, to score Ankiel. The Cardinals built a 3-1 lead through seven frames.

Game Notes

Chicago won 11 of its 16 matchups with the Cardinals a year ago, including a 7-2 mark in St. Louis. The Cubs are also 32-20 in the series since the start of the 2005 season...Attendance was 45,077.