Junior Lake downs Cards 3-0, Cubs earn first series victory

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Junior Lake hit a two-run home run with two-outs to center field in the sixth and Anthony Rizzo added a solo shot to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

The win also marked the Cubs first series victory in 2014 and first since last September.

Jake Arrieta (0-0, 0.00 ERA) made his season debut and did enough to keep the Cardinals (15-17) off the board behind strong defense by Mike Olt and Starlin Castro.

The Cardinals stranded two runners in the first then Castro made an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left field to strand two more Cardinals.

The Cubs (11-17) also struggled early to put runners on. Castro doubled off the left field wall with one-out then advanced to third on Nate Schierholtz‘s groundout before he was stranded on third as Welington Castillo flied out to right in the fourth.

Lake doubled to left to leadoff the fifth, Olt and Luis Valbuena walked to load the bases before Rizzo grounded out to strand three for the Cubs.

Matt Adams singled with one-out in the sixth to end Arrieta’s outing. Arrieta gave up four hits, struck out seven and walked two over 5 1/3 innings. Brian Schlitter entered in relief and popped up the next two batter to end the sixth.

Lake’s two-run home run to center field off Cardinals’ starter Michael Wacha (2-2, 2.55 ERA) gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the sixth. It was his third of the season.

Rizzo’s solo home run to right off left-hander Randy Choate (0-0, 1.64 ERA) in the eighth. It was his third homer in as many days and his third off a lefty.

James Russell made one out in his first relief appearance since April 23.

Hector Rondon gave up back-to-back singles then Jon Jay to ground into a double play before he struck out Mark Ellis for his second save this season.

The Cubs go for the series sweep with Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.08 ERA) taking the mound against Lance Lynn (4-2, 3.60 ERA) on Sunday Night at 7:05 p.m. CT on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

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