Cubs fall again on the road in St. Louis

Sep 28, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals mascot Fredbird dances in the outfield before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals clinched the 2013 National League Central Division on friday night. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs starter Edwin Jackson left Saturday’s game in the top of the third inning with mild right lat discomfort and St. Louis followed up Friday’s division-clinching win with a 6-2 with over Chicago at Busch Stadium.

Jackson (8-18) allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings of work on eight hits and three walks before leaving due to the injury.

Matt Holliday homered for the second straight game, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead with his 22nd home run of the season in the bottom of the first against Jackson.

Four more runs crossed the plate for the Cardinals in the bottom of the third in a frame capped off with a pair of doubles – one by Yadier Molina and one by Pete Kozma, pushing the St. Louis lead to 6-0.

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (19-9) pitched masterfully in his final tune-up before the postseason begins next week. He tossed 5 1/3 scoreless frames, allowing just a pair of base hits while striking out five.

The Chicago offense was weak once again, failing to score until the bottom of the ninth inning when first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit his team-leading 23rd home run of the season, to break up the shutout. A Donnie Murphy RBI double made if 6-2 and reliever Seth Manness closed the door to preserve another Cardinals victory at home.

Chicago tallied seven base hits in the contest, and no player managed more than a lone knock. Starlin Castro continued his recent strong stretch, with a double against Cardinals pitching.

The Cubs conclude the 2013 season in St. Louis tomorrow afternoon. With the loss, Chicago notched its second consecutive 95-loss season, something that had not occurred since the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Jeff Samardzija will take the mound for the Cubs and will be opposed by sinkerballer Jake Westbrook.