Cubs try to keep White Sox down

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(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- As the annual Crosstown Classic draws to a close Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field, one thing remains perfectly clear: The rivalry hasn't lost any of its intensity.

Despite the Chicago Cubs and their neighbors to the south, the White Sox, moving in different directions as next week's trade deadline approaches, winning as much as possible -- especially against one another -- is a common goal.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Wednesday that the club remains open for business after trading pitchers Jose Quintana and David Robertson and third baseman Todd Frazier in recent days. How active the White Sox will be remains unknown; but, while the Cubs chase after a National League Central Division title, the White Sox are in still full-blown rebuilding mode.

"We're still having conversations on a couple of different fronts," Hahn said Wednesday before the White Sox lost 8-3 to the Cubs and fell to 2-14 in their last 16 games. "Obviously, I think we've made our major moves up to this point. But we're still having some conversations."

While Hahn focuses on the future, manager Rick Renteria keeps his focus on the present, especially with one final game against his former team coming Thursday.

Jon Lester (7-6, 3.95 ERA) will start for the Cubs, who are 10-2 since the All-Star break, while the White Sox counter with Mike Pelfrey (3-7, 4.46).

Lester is 6-6 with a 4.43 ERA in 14 starts vs. the White Sox, including 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA in nine turns at Guaranteed Rate Field. Pelfrey is 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in three outings against the Cubs.

"We're trying to play as well as we can," Renteria said Wednesday. "It would be nice to get a win here (against the Cubs) with the hometown fans, for sure. That's what we're going to try and do. We're going to execute; and, if we go out and do what we need to do, just like any other ballclub, we give ourselves a chance and an opportunity to win a game."

The Cubs, meanwhile, are moving closer to the trade deadline likely in the buyer's market. In addition to perhaps adding a little more pitching, the Cubs, who moved into first place in the National League Central with their win Wednesday, reportedly have been shopping for a backup catcher.

Manager Joe Maddon elected to sit the hot-hitting Willson Contreras on Wednesday night to provide a breather. After the Cubs cut ties with veteran Miguel Montrero earlier this season, having a bona fide backup catcher still may be a priority.

Maddon, for one, isn't concerned.

"Our (front office) guys know what they're doing," Maddon said. "They read the tea leaves really well. They're inspired to do what they can do to help us out further, but I will stand by my comment: I like what we have here right now."

After Jake Arrieta allowed only two hits in 6 2/3 innings Wednesday night, Lester will take the mound with hopes of continuing the strong effort the Cubs have gotten from their starters. Since the All-Star break, Cubs starters are 9-0 with eight quality starts and have posted a 2.50 ERA.

While the Cubs possibly look to add to their arsenal, is there a need to add another arm?

"I don't know," Arrieta said. "If there's a situation where we can get another guy and not lose any key players, it might work in our favor. But I think we've got the pieces to get it done."

Arrieta sharp in Cubs victory over White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- When the Chicago Cubs' starting pitching is on target, the rest of Joe Maddon's team tends to follow suit.

And after a disappointing first half when the defending World Series champions were mired in mediocrity, things have turned dramatically ever since as the Cubs' starters have picked up steam.

Wednesday night provided the latest chapter.

Jake Arrieta allowed only two hits in 6 2/3 innings and Anthony Rizzo drilled a three-run double and drove in four runs as the Cubs beat the crosstown rival White Sox 8-3 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Rizzo's bases-loaded double sparked a four-run fifth inning before the Cubs -- 10-2 since the All-Star break -- added another run in the sixth. The win, coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers' loss to the Washington Nationals, moved the Cubs into first place in the National League Central by one-half game.

Arrieta's effort was a big reason why.

"Starting pitching -- we feed off of it," said Rizzo, who was 3-for-4.

The White Sox have lost 14 of their last 16 games.

Rizzo added an RBI single in the eighth inning and Addison Russell homered in the ninth to cap the Cubs' scoring. Alen Hanson homered in the White Sox eighth off reliever Mike Montgomery.

The Cubs' offensive burst was more than enough for Arrieta (10-7), who surrendered a double in the fifth inning to Omar Narvaez and Yoan Moncada's first major league home run with two outs in the seventh inning.

Arrieta struck out five and walked two as he won for the third time in his last five outings (3-1).

"I still feel like I haven't pitched my best yet -- and that's a good feeling," Arrieta said. "With what I have right now, the command I display and the secondary pitches that I'm capable of utilizing, I have a lot of weapons and I feel good."

With Arrieta rolling, the Cubs' offense did, too.

Rizzo's three-run double in the fifth inning gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead. Victor Caratini led off with a single before Jason Heyward walked and Kris Bryant reached on an error. Rizzo cleared the bases with a double that soared over the head of center fielder Adam Engel.

That chased White Sox starter James Shields (2-3), who didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning but left after giving up five runs (three earned) while walking three and striking out four in four-plus innings.

Shields, who has struggled this season with giving up home runs, didn't allow one Wednesday, but couldn't keep going after his strong start.

"That's kind of where he's been a little bit over the last few starts," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He's still trying to make adjustments, he's trying to go out there and compete, he's trying to do all he can and there's only so much he can do in the end.

"Today was one of those days where we just have to keep fighting."

The Cubs extended their lead to 5-0 with two outs on Jon Jay's RBI single.

Hanson got the White Sox on the board with a sacrifice fly that scored Moncada, who walked with one out before advancing to third on Narvaez's double.

After neither team managed a hit in the first three innings, the Cubs broke through in the fourth.

Rizzo singled with one out after Shields, who issued a second-inning walk, retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. After Rizzo advanced to third on a Ben Zobrist single, he gave the Cubs a 1-0 led on Kyle Schwarber's RBI single.

With everything seemingly rolling in the right direction and the Cubs back atop the division standings, it's just a matter of keeping things rolling, manager Joe Maddon said.

"We have to be more efficient (offensively) as we move along and keep working those at-bats," Maddon said. "It's always nice to wake up (in first place)."

NOTES: Cubs LHP Brett Anderson was designated for assignment after being activated from the 60-day disabled list. Anderson was 2-2 with an 8.18 ERA for the Cubs this season. Anderson had been sidelined with a lower back strain. ... White Sox OF Avisail Garcia will be sidelined for "a couple of weeks," general manager Rick Hahn said after an MRI showed a ligament strain in Garcia's right thumb. Garcia also has experienced discomfort in his right middle finger recently. Hahn said Garcia likely won't require a procedure on the thumb before he returns. ... The White Sox traded RHP Anthony Swarzak to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Ryan Cordell, the Brewers' 17th-rated prospect, according to MLB.com. ...RHP Jake Petricka was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list after being placed on the DL June 29 with a right elbow strain. He will take Swarzak's roster spot.

Zobrist, Contreras help Cubs beat White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- It may be something as simple as a good night's sleep, but the versatile Ben Zobrist may be most dangerous when he is rested.

At least that's the theory of Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon after Zobrist reached base four times -- including his 500th career extra-base hit -- to help his team to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

"When he's rested, you're going to get that kind of game out of him," said Maddon as the Cubs split the two-game home portion of a four-game city series. "That's why it's so important to keep him in that shape, that mental balance by being fresh. And he was definitely fresh today."

Zobrist went 3-for-4 with two doubles plus a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. Willson Contreras was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer, his 16th of the season.

Cubs starter John Lackey (7-9) made it back-to-back victories since coming off the disabled list with a successful five-plus inning outing. White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-4) suffered his third straight loss.

"Eleven strikeouts today (but) high pitch counts," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria of Rodon. "The efficiency wasn't there, but he was still able to do a lot. They put a couple balls in play and scored some runs, but all in all his stuff was pretty good. It's lively, his ball is moving a lot."

The Cubs (52-47) won for the ninth time in 11 games since the All-Star break. The White Sox (39-58) have dropped 10 of their last 11.

Zobrist doubled down the third base line for his milestone extra-base hit to lead off the Cubs' first inning. After a one-out walk to Anthony Rizzo, Contreras launched an 0-1 pitch from Rodon to left for a three-run homer and a 3-0 lead.

The White Sox replied with two runs in the second as Tim Anderson and Omar Narvaez each reached on singles with one out, and Rodon helped his cause with a two-base hit to deep center to score both with his first major league hit.

Zobrist doubled again in the second, this time driving in Addison Russell from second with one out to extend the Cubs' lead to 4-2. Rodon limited further damage by striking out Kris Bryant and Rizzo.

Bryant was ejected in the fourth inning after arguing calls with home plate umpire Lance Barksdale.

Rodon worked four innings before right-hander Chris Beck entered in relief in the fifth. Rodon allowed four runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out a career high-tying 11.

Lackey walked Narvaez and gave up a double to right to Adam Engel with none out in the sixth to leave runners at second and third and end his day.

Carl Edwards Jr. entered and quelled the threat by striking out Tyler Saladino and Jose Abreu in a 1-2-3 relief inning.

"That's the game changer, that was the linchpin to the victory right there," said Maddon.

"He's still growing into becoming one of the best relief pitchers in the National League, but the strikeout with Abreu was very emotional for him. I think that's probably going to set him up going forward."

Lackey allowed two runs on five hits in five-plus innings. He struck out five and walked a pair.

The Cubs added two sixth-inning runs. Contreras singled to shallow center off Beck, driving home John Jay for a 5-2 lead. Beck then loaded the bases with a walk to Ian Happ and was pulled in favor of right-hander Gregory Infante.

Albert Almora Jr. greeted Infante with a sacrifice fly to left that drove in Rizzo for a 6-2 lead. Almora 's one-out double in the eighth brought home Happ from second to make it 7-2.

It was an occasionally ugly game as Lackey hit four White Sox batters, including three in a scoreless fifth. One White Sox batter was also hit by a pitch but there were no temper flareups and Lackey insisted he wasn't deliberately aiming at batters.

"If you look at the game, he didn't have any control inside all day, he threw a lot of balls way in, including mine," said White Sox third baseman Matt Davidson, who was hit in the fifth. "I don't think he was trying hit three guys in a row."

NOTES: White Sox rookie 3B Matt Davidson clubbed his 19th homer on Monday and is on pace to hit 32, which would rank third most by a White Sox rookie. ... Reliever Anthony Swarzak had made 225 career relief appearances without a save prior to Monday, when he earned the save in his 226th, a 3-1 White Sox victory. ... The White Sox will send RHP James Shields (2-2, 5.79 ERA) against Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (9-7, 4.11 ERA) on Wednesday as the annual city series moves to Guaranteed Rate Field for night games on Wednesday and Thursday. ... After RF Ben Zobrist collected his 500th extra-base hit on Tuesday, the next individual goal for a Cub is by Jason Heyward, who needs eight hits to reach 1,000 for his career. Heyward had Tuesday off. ... The Cubs improved to 6-7 in interleague play while the White Sox are 4-9.

Cubs' Hendricks returns to start opener vs. White Sox

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(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Kyle Hendricks is rested and ready as he returns to the Chicago Cubs' rotation on Monday for a start in the series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

Sidelined for seven weeks due to right hand tendinitis, the right-hander said he made profitable use of the time.

"I used it to get my body in shape, kept my cardio going, kept my shoulder work, so my arm is strong," Hendricks said. "I tried to take every positive out of it that I could."

Hendricks (4-3, 4.09 ERA) faces White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (4-9, 4.89 ERA) in the first of four games between the city rivals, starting with a pair of day games at Wrigley Field.

Hendricks, who had the National League's lowest ERA (2.13) in 2016, has a ways to go to match that number. He is not raising his expectations for his first start since June 4.

"Time will tell, but obviously right now with the way things went, my finger is feeling good," Hendricks said. "Obviously, I would have liked to come back sooner, but I'm glad we took the course we did and hopefully it can pay off later down the road."

The Cubs (51-46) have been on a roll since returning from the All-Star break. They have won eight of nine, including a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday that propelled them into a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

The White Sox (38-57) have lost nine straight and own the American League's worst record. They have shed several veterans in trades for prospects as the organization does a wholesale rebuild.

It is a familiar role for White Sox manager Rick Renteria, who oversaw a similar reconstruction project while managing the Cubs in 2014 before his dismissal when current manager Joe Maddon became available.

The Monday game will be Renteria's first visit to Wrigley Field as White Sox manager, but he was at the North Side ballpark last year while serving as bench coach under former manager Robin Ventura.

Renteria said last week that it will be a "bittersweet" return.

"This is where I got my first managing opportunity," he said. "But I really take away fond memories from being there, and now I happen to be on the South Side."

Gonzalez enters play Monday 1-9 with a 6.24 ERA over his past 10 starts. He has allowed five runs or more in six of those outings. He is 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs, receiving a no-decision at home on July 25, 2016.

Hendricks is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox. He gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings on the South Side on July 26, 2016.

The White Sox and Cubs split four games last year, with each team winning two at home.

The White Sox lead the all-time series, 57-51. The teams are 27-27 at Wrigley Field.

No matter the records, Hendricks is looking forward to the heightened attention the rivalry week brings.

"A lot of Cubs (fans) nowadays, but still all of the White Sox fans out there, too," he said. "It's always fun. Getting to drive down to the South Side too, go to that ballpark, it's fun for us. Kind of a home game in a way."

Moss walk-off double leads Royals past White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- While Brandon Moss got Sunday's walk-off hit, it was made possible by two Whit Merrifield home runs.

Moss hit a walk-off RBI double in the ninth inning as the Kansas City Royals edged the Chicago White Sox 5-4.

"Winning to me is always supreme to anything," Merrifield said. "That's why you play. I've always tried to do what I could to win. When the opportunity presents itself, all I'm trying to do is win the game."

Moss' double to right field off Tyler Clippard scored Lorenzo Cain. He was running for Mike Moustakas, who led off the inning with a single.

Merrifield's home run in the eighth off Dan Jennings tied it at 4.

"He's a weird at-bat because he's kind of jerky and quick," Merrifield said of Jennings. "I just tried to slow everything down and get the barrel to it. I fouled a couple of pitches off that were tough pitches.

"He threw a slider that was a decent pitch, was down, but I got extended and put the barrel on it. I knew I hit it good. Once I saw it backspinning and kind of carrying, I knew it was going to go."

Kelvin Herrera (3-2) pitched a spotless ninth to pick up the victory. Rookie Gregory Infante (0-1), who started the ninth for Chicago, took the loss.

The Royals blasted four home runs, including two Merrifield solo shots. Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

"Whit's not just a good player late in the game," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He's a good player at the beginning of the game, in the middle of the game, at the end of the game. He gets up to the plate with the focus of putting together a good at-bat. And he knows how to go about and accomplish that."

Adam Engel hit a bases-clearing double in a four-run fifth inning as the White Sox took a 4-3 lead.

Tyler Saladino, Omar Narvaez and Yolmer Sanchez singled with one out of Travis Wood. Engel drilled a double down the left-line to score all three.

Kevin McCarthy was summoned to replace Wood and permitted a Jose Abreu RBI double that put the White Sox ahead.

Wood was charged with four runs, seven hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings.

"We were keeping them off balance in the earlier innings and I left a few pitches over the plate in the fifth," Wood said.

After facing the minimum number of batters the first three innings, White Sox left-hander Derek Holland gave up three straight homers to lead off the fourth.

Merrifield started it with a shot to left on a 2-0 count. Jorge Bonifacio hit his 13th, a full-count blast to left, and Eric Hosmer made it three in a row with a shot that landed in the White Sox right-field bullpen.

The last time the Royals hit three straight home runs was May 25, 2006. It was the second straight game the Royals hit three home runs in an inning.

"That one inning killed me," Holland said. "Obviously, back-to-back-to-back home runs is definitely going to take you out of it a little bit. Bu, I went out there and continued to fight through it.

"I'm not going to let something like that slow me down. The outcome wasn't what I wanted. It's very frustrating with all the work that me and Coop's (pitching coach Don Cooper) been doing. Just more of an angry approach right now. I'm not happy with that."

Holland, who had yielded 24 home runs in 102 innings, did not make it through the fifth. Anthony Swarzak replaced him after a Drew Butera double and a Merrifield walk.

"That's disappointing to go out there and not go at least five or six," Holland said. "When you don't execute you get taken out of the game. If anybody wants to blame anything, it's myself. To me, I think it's a poor performance. It needs to be better than that. It's very frustrating. As a starter myself, I've got to do better."

The White Sox have lost nine consecutive games. The Royals ended their 10-game homestand with five straight victories.

NOTES: The Royals have five players -- 3B Mike Moustakas, C Salvador Perez, 1B Eric Hosmer, DH Brandon Moss and RF Jorge Bonifacio -- on a pace to hit 20 home runs. If that occurs, it would be the first time in franchise history. ... Tyler Saladino started at shortstop for the second straight game with Tim Anderson on the White Sox bench. ... 2B Yoan Moncada struck out for the first time as a White Sox in the second inning in his 12th plate appearance. ... The White Sox open a four-game series Monday with the crosstown rival Cubs at Wrigley Field. White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez and Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks are the probables for the opener. ... The Royals open a nine-game trip Monday with the first three games at Detroit. Royals RHP Jason Hammel and Tigers RHP Justin Verlander are the Monday probables.

Cubs down Cardinals, grab share of first place

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Willson Contreras is doing just about everything for the Chicago Cubs these days, including leading them back into first place.

The catcher blocked one run in the first inning, slammed a go-ahead home run in the sixth and confidently handled new starter Jose Quintana and three relievers in Chicago's 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

"He's hitting fourth, he's catching, he's handling a really good pitching staff, he's throwing people out, he's blocking the ball really well," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "And he's hitting homers."

Chicago (51-46) moved into a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and improved to a season-high five games over .500.

Contreras snapped a tie with a two-run home run, driving in Kris Bryant with his 15th, the top total among NL catchers.

"It feels great (but) it's not about me, it's about the team," Contreras said. "I'm not thinking about first place, I'm thinking about the game that we have tomorrow against the White Sox and keep doing what we've been doing."

The Cubs took two of three in the weekend series and caught Milwaukee (53-48) in the division with their eighth victory in nine games. Chicago has made up a 5 1/2-game deficit on the Brewers since the All-Star break.

The Cardinals (47-51) absorbed their fourth loss in five games and fell 4 1/2 games out in the NL Central.

"We're putting up some good games against some good teams, but something's not letting us finish it one way or the other -- whether it's enough offense or enough pitching and defense," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

"There's enough to be seen that I know the rest of the league knows this team's for real."

Cubs starter Jose Quintana, 2-0 since coming from the Chicago White Sox on July 13 and 6-8 overall, worked six innings for the victory. He allowed three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out seven.

"I was really excited tonight for being the first (game) at Wrigley," Quintana said. "First hitters, I was behind the counts, but I made adjustments."

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha (7-4) pitched six innings in his 100th career start. He allowed five runs on six hits, struck out six and gave up two home runs.

"Curveball was an effective pitch for me tonight, I got some swings and misses, got some big outs for me," Wacha said. "I left a couple cutters -- one cutter over the middle to (Kyle) Schwarber and one to Contreras, both homers."

Cubs closer Wade Davis gave up a leadoff single in the ninth before retiring the next three batters for his 20th save.

Bryant went 2-for-4 to lead the Cubs. Jedd Gyorko, Randal Grichuk and Paul DeJong each had two hits for the Cardinals.

St. Louis was denied in the first as Jason Heyward made a leaping grab at the wall in right for one out, and left fielder Schwarber and Addison Russell collaborated to stop Cardinals leadoff batter Matt Carpenter from reaching home on Gyorko's double with two gone.

Schwarber picked up the ball on a rebound and threw to Russell. The shortstop fired to catcher Contreras, who tagged Carpenter as the pair collided.

Carpenter did not return for the second inning due to right quad tightness. He was replaced by Luke Voit.

St. Louis got on the board in the second with Grichuk's two-run, one-out home run to center in the second. Grichuk, who now has five homers in his past seven games and 12 for the season, drove in Yadier Molina for a 2-0 lead.

The Cubs replied with a pair of third-inning runs as Russell doubled to lead off and came home on Heyward's RBI two-base hit to deep right with two outs. Heyward scored on Bryant's bloop single to right.

DeJong's 12th homer into the left field basket with two outs in the fourth opened a 3-2 St. Louis lead. Schwarber matched it in the bottom of the inning with his one-out blast deep into the right field bleachers for his 15th home run and first since July 14.

NOTES: The Cardinals wound up 4-6 on a road trip that ended Sunday. They open a seven-game home set on Monday as RHP Mike Leake (6-8, 3.39 ERA) goes against Colorado RHP Antonio Senzatela (10-3, 4.67 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series. ... The Cardinals and Cubs meet again in a three-game series in mid-September. ... The crosstown White Sox visit the Cubs for two interleague games on Monday and Tuesday. Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 4.09 ERA) makes his first start since a seven-week stay on the disabled list after recovering from right hand tendinitis. He goes against White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (4-9, 4.89 ERA). The teams travel to Guaranteed Rate Field for games on Wednesday and Thursday. ... The Cubs did not allow a run in the first inning for the ninth straight game. Until the All-Star break, they had given up 80 runs in the opening inning through 88 games.

Bryant keys Cubs' rally against Cardinals

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made a swift return from a finger injury.

Then he quickly made an impact.

Bryant tied it with a broken-bat RBI single before scoring the go-ahead run on Anthony Rizzo's RBI double in the eighth inning as the Cubs rallied for a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Bryant returned to the Cubs' lineup after missing Friday's game with a sprained left pinkie finger. He was injured on a headfirst slide on Wednesday.

"KB, being able to play was the difference in today's game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The combination of the hit and his speed. I don't think anybody else scores on that.

"You can't underestimate the importance of one person in the lineup."

A day after the Cardinals rallied in the eighth inning to beat the Cubs, Chicago scored three runs in the eighth to come back, including Ben Zobrist's RBI double.

Paul DeJong and Randal Grichuk hit back-to-back home runs off Jon Lester (7-6) in the eighth inning to put the Cardinals ahead. DeJong smacked a two-out solo shot to left field for his 11th of the season before Grichuk connected on his 11th.

"He was hitting spots all game, in and out, didn't give me much to hit," DeJong said of Lester. "(He) finally hung a breaking ball in my third at-bat. Happened to get it out in Wrigley. Kind of flicked it. He was good all day, we just had to battle."

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright threw seven scoreless innings before being charged with two runs in the eighth. He gave up four hits and no walks and struck out three in 7 2/3 innings.

"It was a great duel," Wainwright said about pitching against Lester. "I love being a part of something like that. I love matching up against great quality pitchers like him."

Wade Davis allowed two walks in the ninth before striking out Yadier Molina for his 19th save.

Matt Bowman (2-4) took the loss, as the teams have split the first two games of their three-game series. The Cardinals' bullpen has blown 14 saves this season.

Lester struck out 10, matching a season high, and allowed three hits and no walks in eight innings.

"To come back there at the end was big for us, especially coming out of the (All-Star) break playing so well," said Lester, who wore initials for "Play Like a Champion Today" on his hat to honor his uncle, a University of Notre Dame fan who died Friday.

Wainwright broke up Lester's perfect game with a single to left field with two outs in the sixth. Lester got Matt Carpenter to ground out to end the inning.

After allowing a Bryant single in the first inning and a Jason Heyward triple in the second, Wainwright retired 15 straight batters before third baseman Jedd Gyorko committed a fielding error in the eighth.

"He was fantastic, one of his best starts we've seen," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Wainwright. "It's shame we weren't able to finish it out."

Lester hit Molina with a pitch to begin the eighth but got a double play before allowing the two home runs. He has given up 17 home runs this season after allowing 21 in 2016.

Bryant singled in his first at-bat since returning from a finger injury.

"Our trainers are awesome," Bryant said. "Luckily, I haven't been in there too much in my career. They've done a really good job making me feel good really quick."

The Cubs had won a season-high six straight before the Cardinals took Friday's series opener 11-4.

NOTES: The Cubs recalled RHP Felix Pena from Triple-A Iowa and optioned INF Tommy La Stella to Triple-A Iowa. Pena joins the Cubs for the fourth time this season and gives the team 13 pitchers. He is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 relief outings. La Stella is hitting .298. ... The Cubs' rotation for their upcoming series against the Chicago White Sox will be RHP Kyle Hendricks on Monday, RHP John Lackey on Tuesday, RHP Jake Arrieta on Wednesday and LHP Jon Lester on Thursday. Hendricks (right hand tendinitis) has been on the disabled list since June 5. ... Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery will be available out of the bullpen. ... C Yadier Molina was back in the Cardinals' lineup after he was a late scratch Friday because of discomfort in his right ankle. ... Cardinals OF Jose Martinez was doing OK after a foul ball struck him near the temple during Friday's game while he was in the dugout, manager Mike Matheny said. Martinez underwent concussion tests.