Grichuck's walk-off HR beats Cubs in series opener

ST. LOUIS -- Randal Grichuk told reporters Monday afternoon that his sore back was OK. A few hours later, Grichuk proved it with his first career walk-off home run.

Grichuk's solo homer in the bottom of the ninth lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

"I was trying to battle and get a pitch in the zone and put good wood on it and get on," Grichuk said. "Luckily, I was able to get a homer."

Matt Adams tied the score with a two-run homer in the seventh for St. Louis' major league-leading ninth pinch-hit homer of the season. It also ended a streak of 13 innings of one-run pitching by Chicago starter John Lackey against his former team.

"This is a team that can do damage in a hurry," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "That's something we haven't had in the past as much, the ability for quite a few guys in that lineup that feel good about getting the ball over the fence and create instant offense."

Grichuk drove a 2-2 pitch off of Adam Warren (3-1) for the win.

Adams drove a high change-up to straight-away center to revive what was a stagnant offense against Lackey. It was Adams' second pinch-hit homer this season and he's hitting .500 off the bench.

"It's no secret," Adams said. "I just make sure I'm ready to go when my name's called."

Trevor Rosenthal (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Cubs' Ben Zobrist had three singles and a walk, extending his streak to 29 starts with reaching safely. He is hitting .387 during that span.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright pitched in and out of trouble throughout his six innings, scattering seven hits and stranding eight runners, while throwing 68 of his 108 pitches for strikes.

"I had great stuff tonight," Wainwright said. "I loved my stuff. I just have to attack a little better than I did in a couple of those innings. But that stuff translates. That's going to play well the rest of the season."

Lackey gave up three runs in seven economical innings. He struck out nine while throwing just 87 pitches.

Miguel Montero's second single of the game tied it at 1-1 in the fourth, breaking a 26-inning scoreless streak Wainwright had against the Cubs dating back to May 13, 2014.

Javier Baez followed with a bunt, but was awarded an infield single after Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong failed to backup first on the play, setting up a fielder's choice from Addison Russell that made it 2-1 Cubs.

Anthony Rizzo drove in his 35th run of the year with a broken-bat single in the fifth.

Aledmys Diaz gave the Cardinals' an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the third.

Up next

Cubs: Right-hander Jason Hammel (5-1, 2.31 ERA) will make his second start of the season against St. Louis today. He earned the win, allowing one run in six innings on April 19 and is 3-3 with a 5.26 ERA in eight starts against the Cardinals.

Cardinals: Michael Wacha (2-4, 4.03 ERA) is trying to break a career-long four-game losing streak. He is 3-3 with a 4.86 ERA in 10 career appearances against Chicago.