Morning Marquee: Cubs lose despite two Anthony Rizzo HRs

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The Chicago Cubs entered Friday night hoping to take the first two games of the series over the Nats’ but would fall by the final score of 7-5 despite first baseman Anthony Rizzo going deep twice.

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It was only a matter of time when Rizzo broke out with a multi-home run game, just a little disappointing that it was in a losing effort on the road. The 25-year-old slugger drilled his first big fly of the game in the top half of the first, his 10th home run of the season that put his team on the board after Washington grabbed a 3-0 lead.

This time around, it wasn’t Bryce Harper or Denard Span who took a Chicago pitcher deep – it was none other than second baseman Danny Espinosa in the home half of the second. Espinosa connected on a fifth pitch fastball that was under 90 miles per hour, send it into Washington’s bullpen for a three-run shot.

Both Rizzo and Miguel Montero brought their club within a run during the top of the sixth – drilling home runs to center field off Illinois-native Tanner Roark.

Outfielder Chris Coghlan later added to Chicago’s score on an RBI single off Drew Storen, making it a 7-5 ball game and hoping to spark a ninth inning rally.

With the Chicago Cubs dropping game two to the Nationals, the first-place St. Louis Cardinals rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road, 2-1. Starting pitcher Carlos Martinez worked seven solid innings, holding the Dodgers to just one earned run on three hits while posting an 11/4 K/BB ratio.

The Redbirds trailed by a run until the top half of the eighth when Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter were able to drive in runs to take the 2-1 lead.

Wong singled on a ground ball to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a play that allowed Pete Kozma to cross home plate safely. With Jason Heyward standing on third, Carpenter lifted an fly ball to right fielder Andre Ethier, pushing the former Atlanta Brave outfielder to race home for the final run of the game.

Here’s more from around the league:

Fan struck by broken bat suffers serious injury‘ – MLB.com

Eighth Inning Defensive Lapse Dooms Dodgers‘ – Lasorda’s Lair

Yanks’ Hold On Against Angels‘ – Yanks Go Yard

Mick Foley to visit South Bend Cubs on June 21‘ – Cubbies Crib

D’backs Sink Fangs Into Jon Niese And Bullpen‘ – Rising Apple

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