CHICAGO CUBS (99-56) VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (81-74) SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 0 7 Cubs 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 X 3 8 0 9 Winning Pitcher: Lester (19-4) Losing Pitcher: Martinez (15-9) Save: Chapman (16)
STARTING PITCHERS GAME INFORMATION Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO WP HR PC/S Left Time of Game: 3:09 Carlos Martinez (L) 6.0 6 2 2 4 6 0 1 107/65 0-2 First Pitch: 7:08 pm Jon Lester (W) 6.2 3 0 0 1 7 0 0 96/61 2-0, 2 on Temperature: 81 Degrees Courtesy of STATS, Inc. Wind: SW 3 mph
HOME RUNS ATTENDANCE INFORMATION Team Batter No. Pitcher Inn. Count Men On Location Today: 40,859 CHI Ross 10 Martinez 5 1-0 0 Left Field Season Total: 3,232,420 # of Wrigley Games: 81 (57-24) Average per Game: 39,906
CHICAGO CUBS
JON LESTER won his N.L.-best 19th game, tying his career-high set previously in 2010 with Boston … the 19 wins are the most by a Cubs lefty since Dick Ellsworth won 22 games in 1963 … he has won a career-high 10-straight games, the longest active streak in baseball … his 2.28 ERA ranks second in the majors. He improved to 10-0 with a 1.34 ERA (13 ER/87.0 IP) in 13 starts in the season’s second half … is seeking to become the first Cubs pitcher since Rick Sutcliffe in 1984 (12-0) to go 10-0 or better in a season’s second half … has gone 7-0 with a 0.64 ERA (4 ER/56.1 IP) in his last eight starts, becoming the first pitcher in Cubs history with eight-straight starts allowing one or zero runs (thanks to Elias/Christopher Kamka). Recorded his major league-best 21st start allowing one or fewer earned runs, and his seventh scoreless outing. Finished the season 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA (20 ER/103.1 IP) in 15 home starts, all quality efforts. Cubs starting pitchers went 44-15 with a 2.25 ERA (129 ER/515.0 IP) at home this season, the best club mark since 1919 (1.98) … thanks STATS Inc.
DAVID ROSS (1-for-2, HR, R, RBI, BB) hit his 10th homer of the season in the fifth inning, a go-ahead shot … his fourth season with at least 10 homers (also, 2003, 2006 and 2007) … is one of three Cubs players in their age 39-or-older season with at least 10 homers, joining Davey Lopes (11 in 1985) and Ernie Banks (12 in 1970). He is the first player to go at least nine years between double-digit homer campaigns since Dale Sveum, who went 10 years between double-digit home run campaigns from 1987-1997 … thanks STATS Inc. The Cubs now have nine players with 10 or more homers, tying the franchise record set last season … the nine players are tied for the most in baseball with Minnesota, Seattle and St. Louis.
BEN ZOBRIST (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R) recorded his 12th three-hit game of the season, tied for tops on the Cubs … has gone 8-for-13 with three walks in his last four games.
ADDISON RUSSELL (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB) collected his 94th RBI of the season, tied for the most among shortstops with Carlos Correa … finished the season with 62 RBI at home, the most by a Cubs player since Derrek Lee drove in 68 runs at home in 2009.
NOTES: The Cubs set a Wrigley Field franchise record with 57 home wins … marks the club’s most home wins since winning 58 games in 1910 at West Side Grounds … at 57-24 (.704), the Cubs will finish the season with the best home record in the majors and the best mark by any team since the 2011 Brewers also went 57-24. Combined with the Rangers’ loss today, the Cubs have clinched the best record in baseball for the first time since 1945 and the 12th time in franchise history. The Cubs won their 99th game, marking the seventh time they have reached at least 99 wins and the first time since going 100-54 in 1935 … since the beginning of last season, the Northsiders have won 196 games, tied for the sixth-most over a two year stretch in club history and the most since winning 196 in 1910-11. The Cubs claimed the season series over St. Louis (10-9) for the first time since going 9-6 in 2010. Cubs pitchers struck out 755 batters at home this season, setting a new Wrigley Field record … surpassed the 744 strikeouts at Wrigley Field by the 2003 Cubs. The Cubs season attendance of 3,232,420 ranked third in franchise history, surpassed only by the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Aroldis Chapman (1.0 IP, BB, SO) has not allowed a run in his last 29 games against the Cardinals (29.1 IP), spanning the last five seasons … he has posted a 0.91 ERA (3 ER/29.2 IP) in 30 appearances since the All-Star Break this season. Willson Contreras (1-for-1, RBI) has hit safely in six-straight games (.471/8-for-17) … has RBI in three of his last four games.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
YADIER MOLINA (2-for-4, 2B) extended his hitting streak to 11 games (.436/17-for-39) … has five multi-hit games in his last six contests.
CARLOS MARTINEZ made his career-high 30th start of the season … has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, posting a 2.65 ERA (15 ER/51.0 IP) during the span … suffered his third loss of the season vs. the Cubs, his most career losses against any opponent in a single season.
NOTES: The Cardinals have dropped three of four games following a four-game winning streak. Jose Martinez (1-for-3, R, BB) has hit safely in his last four games (.667/4-for-6).