It was a pretty miserable day at the ballpark for 12 innings. The Cubs offense remained in the deep freeze with the club managing just 3 hits through those first 12 innings. The road Cubs at Wrigley looked like they were facing Carlos Marmol as the team played two true outcomes baseball. The Cubs either reached base via a walk and were able to take an early 1-0 lead without a hit, but they also struck out frequently as has been the pattern for a long time now. After the Cardinals were able to build a lead, it felt like the game was over.

And then David Bote flipped the game with a well-timed longball in a four run inning. The bullpen managed to hold onto to the slimmest of leads and the losing streak is finally over.

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Alex Reyes struck out Kris Bryant to start the game. Anthony Rizzo drew a walk before Javier Baez was also a victim of the K. Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras each drew walks to load the bases with two outs. A passed ball allowed Anthony Rizzo to score but Kyle Schwarber attempted to score as the ball was playing pinball wizard behind the plate. Unfortunately Schwarber was not fast enough hulk to score on the play and the inning was over with the Cubs up 1-0 without a base hit.

Tyson Miller got a nifty play from Anthony Rizzo for his out in the big leagues. Miller worked around a two out walk to Paul Goldschmidt to put up a zero on the board. However, Miller walked Matt Carpenter to start the second inning. Brad Miller then hit a homer to put the Cardinals up 2-1. After Miller failed to retire Miller, Tyson settled in to complete his second big league inning.

The Cubs put runners on against Ricardo Sanchez but failed to record a base hit or more importantly a run in two innings. Ryan Tepera pitched a clean third inning for the Cubs. Rob Kaminsky matched Tepera with a clean top of the fourth inning for the Cardinals as the collective bullpen game wore on.

The Cardinals were able to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning against Kyle Ryan. Brad Miller hit his second homer of the game with one out and Max Schrock hit his first big league home run in the next at bat to double the Cardinals run total. Ryan gave up back to back singles with two outs to give the Cardinals a chance to put the game away. Duane Underwood Jr. struck out Dylan Carlson to keep the Cubs in it at 4-1.

It certainly didn’t feel like the Cubs were still in it as the offense continued to sleep walk through the fifth inning. Underwood pitched a clean bottom of the inning. And then it was the sixth inning.

Genesis Cabrera was starting his second inning of work when he plunked Baez to start the frame. Kyle Schwarber attempted to bunt against the shift but struck out as it rolled foul. Tyler Webb was summoned to face Willson Contreras. The Cubs catcher ripped a double for the Cubs first base hit and the score was now 4-2 Cardinals. Ian Happ bunted Contreras to third. Jason Heyward drew a walk to extend the inning. David Bote was called on to pinch hit for Victor Caratini, and he provided the Cubs second hit of the night with a drive into dead centerfield to make it a 5-4 Cubs lead.

Dan Winkler walked less than bad Brad Miller to start the bottom of the sixth. A pop up to the catcher and a double play prevented the Cardinals from getting anything going. Rizzo added a third Cubs hit in the top of the seventh, but the Cubs couldn’t tack on any insurance runs. It wasn’t needed as Jeremy Jeffress breezed through the bottom of the inning for his second save.

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And with that aforementioned swing the Cubs did end the losing streak. And thankful that means:

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