Moises leads Cubs past Cardinals

CHICAGO -- Moises Alou was angry when he arrived at Wrigley Field on Wednesday and took it out on the Cardinals.

Alou had a career-high five hits, including a go-ahead single in the eighth inning that capped a comeback from a six-run deficit and led the Chicago Cubs over the Cardinals 8-7.

"Against St. Louis, right in the middle of a pennant race, for me to come up clutch and get the game-winning hit was awesome," he said. "It was a huge game. Down 6-0 this team really showed a lot of heart."

Before the game, Alou said he was still upset over an umpire's call that the Cubs felt cost them the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. A bases-loaded drive down the line by Alou was called foul -- even though a photo appeared to show it hit the line -- and the Cubs lost 2-0.

Alou then went out and drove in four runs to lead the Cubs to a big win in a tension-filled game that included a shouting match between managers and the two starting pitchers hitting each other with pitches.

"That was a great, great victory for us," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We were hitting the ball hard all day long and had nothing to show for it. The guy's kept battling and fighting and grinding and grinding.

"This was the ultimate comeback in a big game and a big series," Baker added.

Shut out through five innings

Chicago trailed 6-0 before scoring three runs in the sixth, then allowed a run in the seventh before closing to 7-6 with three more runs in the bottom half.

Mark Grudzielanek hit an RBI triple in the eighth and scored on Alou's single. Both hits came off Woody Williams (14-8), making his first relief appearance since pitching for Toronto at the New York Yankees on June 6, 1996.

"We had nobody else available," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "It was his day to throw in the bullpen. It's a shame that he had to go in that tough of a situation."

Williams, who started in Monday's loss to the Cubs, said he's always ready to help out.

"I had a chance to do some good for the team and it didn't happen," he said.

Chicago began Wednesday 1 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

Joe Borowski (2-2) retired the final four St. Louis batters for the win.

"When we got those three runs back in the bottom of the sixth there was just a feeling. I was sitting in the (dugout) saying there's no way we're losing this game," said Chicago starter Matt Clement, lifted in the sixth inning after giving up four runs. "As the runs scored and the momentum built, the crowd got louder and everybody was so excited."

Baker and La Russa got into a shouting match in the third inning after Clement was hit by Dan Haren -- who had been hit by Clement the previous inning. On Tuesday night Chicago's Kerry Wood twice knocked down Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris but didn't hit him.

Plate umpire Mike Reilly issued a warning to both benches after Clement was hit Wednesday. La Russa came out of the dugout and had a discussion with Reilly, and Baker did the same after La Russa finished.

Baker then began pointing and gesturing toward La Russa. Reilly escorted Baker back to his dugout, where he and others continued to scream and point at La Russa -- who responded by screaming back.

Baker said he was upset by comments La Russa made to reporters Tuesday night implying he would retaliate if he thought his pitchers were targeted. La Russa didn't want to talk about it after Wednesday's game.

"I'd rather talk to Dusty about it personally," he said.

St. Louis built its lead on Tino Martinez's two-run single in the first and J.D. Drew's grand slam in the sixth.

Drew played his first game since a stint on the disabled list with a muscle strain in his side and was a late addition to the lineup, subbing for an injured Jim Edmonds. He singled, doubled and hit the grand slam off reliever Felix Sanchez in the sixth inning.

Alou began the comeback with an RBI single in the sixth, and Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Jeff Fassero.

Edgar Renteria made it 7-3 with an RBI single in the seventh off Antonio Alfonseca. Alou hit a two-run homer in the bottom half off Russ Springer, and Alex Gonzalez followed three batters later with a solo shot.Noteworthy

Edmonds pinch hit with two outs in the ninth and struck out.

Pujols is 2-for-15 in the five-game series, which ends today.

With a run-scoring single in the seventh, Renteria tied the team record for RBIs by a shortstop (82), a mark he shares with Doc Lavan (1921).