Cubs drop heartbreaker marathon game to Cardinals, 4-3

May 13, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman

(15) falls over St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter

(19) after a throwing error by shortstop

(not pictured) during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Down to their last out in the top of the ninth, the Chicago Cubs’ back was against the wall at Busch Stadium, but a clutch RBI single by Emilio Bonifacio gave the club new life for short while, before they eventually fell to the division rival Cardinals in the bottom of the 12th by a 4-3 final.

With the bases loaded and one out the in bottom of the 12th, Cubs reliever Justin Grimm (1-2, 3.63 ERA) hit left-handed batting Greg Garcia with a pitch, forcing in the game-winning run and ending what had been a nail biter of a contest in a less-than-ideal fashion.

Cubs starter Jake Arrieta allowed just one run in four innings of work, continuing his recent string of solid work on the mound.

Chicago (13-25) led most of the first half of the ballgame, thanks to a third-inning, two-run home run by third baseman Luis Valbuena off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright.

The St. Louis ace tossed six innings, allowing just the two runs that came via the Valbuena home run in the third. However, shoddy work by the Cardinals relief corps ended up costing Wainwright a shot at redemption against the Cubs.

With Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal on the hill, Bonifacio laced a pitch to right field. It appeared as if it would be caught, but it fell in front of the right fielder, tying the game at 2-2.

St. Louis (20-20) took the lead in the sixth on a series of plays, including a Starlin Castro throwing error, followed by an RBI single off the bat of Jhonny Peralta. The score remained 3-2 until the top of the ninth, when Chicago tied the game.

Right-hander Seth Maness (1-2, 2.70 ERA) tossed a scoreless top of the 12th to pick up the win for the Cardinals.

Valbuena led the Chicago offense with a trio of hits on the night, while Bonifacio and Welington Castillo each added a pair in the losing effort.