Cardinals down Cubs to claim 8th straight win

ST. LOUIS -- Pinch-hitter Mark Reynolds doubled off the wall in center field to snap a tie in the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied from three runs down to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-4 on Tuesday night, their eighth straight victory.

Matt Carpenter of St. Louis tied the game with a three-run homer off Kyle Hendricks in the fifth and finished with four RBIs. Kolten Wong added an RBI in the seventh on an infield single, his third hit of the game.

Mitch Harris (1-0), a 29-year-old rookie and former Navy lieutenant, worked a scoreless sixth for his first career victory. Trevor Rosenthal earned his ninth save in 10 chances.

Anthony Rizzo had three hits and a walk but grounded out with the bases loaded against Miguel Socolovich to end the eighth. Starlin Castro had two RBIs on a forceout in the fifth when the Cardinals couldn't quite turn a double play and rookie Kris Bryant scored from second. The Cubs have lost a season-long four straight.

Yadier Molina added two hits and an RBI for the Cardinals, whose major league-best 20-6 start is a franchise best since 1900.

Besides trailing 4-1 in the fifth inning Tuesday, the Cardinals were behind 5-0 in the first and 8-4 in the fifth of a 10-9 win Monday.

Reynolds, who hit a grand slam in Monday's comeback, had been 1 for 8 with six strikeouts against Edwin Jackson (1-1) before his go-ahead hit Tuesday.

Harris is the just the second major leaguer from the Naval Academy and the first since Nemo Gaines in 1921 with the Washington Senators.

Up next

Cubs: Jon Lester (1-2, 4.71) was 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA for the Red Sox in the 2013 World Series against St. Louis. He's 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two regular-season starts, including opening night at home this year.

Cardinals: St. Louis has scored just 10 runs in five games started by Lance Lynn (1-2, 3.07). The right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.14 ERA at home against the Cubs.

Trainer's room

Cubs: GM Jed Hoyer opted for 13 pitchers after Chris Denorfia (hamstring) was placed on the DL, saying "We're a little bit gassed."

Cardinals: Set-up man Jordan Walden, on the DL with a biceps injury, was getting a second opinion on an MRI. GM John Mozeliak said Walden was "leaning toward" trying to pitch through it.