Piscotty homers in 8th to lead Cards' comeback over Cubs 6-4

CHICAGO -- Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the St. Louis Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.

Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 because of a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.

The Cardinals split a four-game series with major league-leading Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak.

Cubs starter John Lackey allowed only one unearned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the seventh with an injury. Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a solo homer and three RBIs, and Ben Zobrist knocked in a run with a sac fly.

St. Louis Cardinals closing pitcher Seung Hwan Oh (26) celebrates with catcher Yadier Molina left, after defeating the Chicago Cubs 6-4 during a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Lackey was sailing along and struck out five in his fourth straight solid start. But right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Grichuk. Lackey walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm, who struck out Grichuk.

Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh in relief of Mike Leake for the win. Leake allowed three runs on six hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row over one stretch despite entering with a 9.00 ERA in his previous four starts.

Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.

Garcia snapped an 0-for-31 streak with a single with one out in the third, then came around to score an unearned run on Zobrist's throwing error to make it 2-1.

Leake settled into a pitchers' duel with Lackey with a little help from his defense.

St. Louis third baseman Jhonny Peralta made a diving stop, rolled and threw to first in one motion on Addison Russell's sharp grounder in the fourth.

Kris Bryant ended Leake's run with a triple to right-center with one out in the sixth. He scored on Rizzo's second RBI single to make it 3-1.

After the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead in the eighth, Rizzo hit his 25th homer in the bottom half.

Let's play two

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he'd have no problem with MLB shortening the season by adding more doubleheaders, but not drawn-out day-night twinbills. Maddon would be for second games starting 30 minutes after the end of the first, and for teams adding two players to their rosters.

"I think the fans would dig it, too," said Maddon, while noting he understands the economics of day-night doubleheaders with separate admissions. "If you have to put a premium on the price tag, I don't know."

Trainer's room

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is expected to be re-examined by the team's hand specialist today. St. Louis LHP Kevin Siegrist left after striking out Zobrist in the eight with an apparent injury and was replaced by Oh.

Cubs: Rondon said before the game he was "100 percent ready." He allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Up next

Cardinals: Following a day off today, LHP Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93) opens a two-game set in Houston against LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56). St. Louis also has Thursday off, but manager Mike Matheny plans no changes to his strained rotation.

Cubs: Chicago also has today off, then hosts Milwaukee in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 3.07) is expected to come off the DL (right knee tendinitis) and start in the opener against Brewers RHP Matt Garza (4-4, 4.83). Chicago's Jason Hammel (12-5, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA since the All-Star break and will take the mound in the nightcap against RHP Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.93).