As they say, the Cardinals showed plenty of character as they rallied from two deficits of five runs on Wednesday. But that did not translate into victory as the Chicago Cubs, who scored six runs in an early inning for the second game in a row, held on for a 9-8 win before a sellout crowd of 45,565 at Busch Stadium.
Cubs righthander Jake Arrieta lasted only five innings against a relentless Cardinals attack but he was able to gain his remarkable 20th consecutive victory over two seasons and ninth straight this year.
Despite the Cardinals profiting from homers hit by Randal Grichuk, Matt Adams and Matt Holliday, they could not overcome the second-inning struggles of Carlos Martinez, who gave up those six runs in one frame and lost his fifth decision in succession.