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Lackey, Cardinals win NLDS opener against Cubs

 
Cardinals starter John Lackey takes a no-hitter into the sixth inning and a shutout into the eighth against the Cubs.
Cardinals starter John Lackey takes a no-hitter into the sixth inning and a shutout into the eighth against the Cubs.
Published Oct. 10, 2015

ST. LOUIS — John Lackey lived up to his reputation as a pitcher who craves the ball in October, helping the Cardinals cool off the upstart Cubs.

Lackey outpitched old teammate Jon Lester, allowing two hits into the eighth inning, and rookies Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty homered late for St. Louis in a 4-0 victory Friday night in the opener of the NL Division Series.

Friday night "was special, for sure," Lackey said. "The atmosphere was outstanding, the crowd was really into it, and I knew I'd have to pitch well."

He did it in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 47,830 — the second largest at 10-year-old Busch Stadium — with thousands of Cubs faithful mixed into the red throng for the first postseason game between the longtime rivals.

"Incredible. I thought his fastball was about as good as we've seen. Period," manager Mike Matheny said. "Anything you wanted to do, he pretty much had it."

Yadier Molina did his part behind the plate, too, wearing a splint to protect a strained left thumb ligament that sidelined him since Sept. 20. He was 0-for-3 but seemingly had no issues.

"You can tell he's been anxious to get in there," Matheny said. "The way he moved behind the plate, the way he and John were working, he is so valuable to our club in so many ways."

Lackey protected a 1-0 lead by holding the Cubs hitless for five innings, getting help from Kris Bryant's double-play ball to end the fourth. Addison Russell ended the suspense with a solid single up the middle to open the sixth. Kyle Schwarber's bunt hit leading off the seventh was the only other hit Lackey allowed in 71/3 innings.

Kevin Siegrist struck out two to end the eighth, when it was still a one-run game. Trevor Rosenthal gave up a single and a walk but fanned three in finishing the three-hitter.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is tonight. The Cardinals turn to left-hander Jaime Garcia, who made 20 starts coming off risky thoracic surgery. Kyle Hendricks makes his postseason debut for the Cubs.

Matt Holliday had an RBI single in the first, giving St. Louis a lead after just three at-bats. Pinch-hitter Pham homered off Lester with one out in the eighth to snap a string of 13 outs for the lefty. Piscotty had a two-run shot off Pedro Strop in the eighth.

Lackey, 36, outdid Lester, with whom he formed a potent 1-2 punch on the 2013 Red Sox, the team that knocked off the Cardinals in the World Series.

"Lester did his thing as well," Lackey said. "A really fun game, and fun to be a part of."

Lackey is 3-0 with an 0.93 ERA in four starts against Chicago overall. Lester is 1-4 but with a 2.79 ERA against St. Louis.

Including their wild-card win Wednesday at Pittsburgh, the Cubs had won nine in a row. They haven't scored since the fifth inning of that 4-0 win, however.

Chicago manager Joe Maddon interrupted the game briefly in the sixth but said he had just asked plate umpire Phil Cuzzi to have the ball replaced because it had been in the dirt.

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"We could not get anything generated," the former Rays manager said. "They've pitched really well all season, that's a big reason they won 100 games."

Lester, the Cubs' big offseason free agent pickup, settled in for an impressive night after the first, when Piscotty doubled with one out and scored on Holliday's single.

"Lack made really one more pitch than I did," Lester said. "I know obviously the grand total doesn't show that, but that's kind of the way I feel."

St. Louis finished three games ahead of the Cubs, who had the third-best record in the majors and are making their first postseason appearance since 2008.