Clay Holmes allowed one hit over 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Seiya Suzuki belted a three-run homer, fueling the host Chicago Cubs to a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday afternoon.
Making his second start since being acquired from the New York Mets on Aug. 3, Holmes (5-5) retired the first 16 batters he faced before Jose Fermin singled to right field in the sixth inning. Holmes struck out three batters and walked one before exiting after 80 pitches.
Ryan Rolison relieved Holmes and retired Nathan Church after an 11-pitch at-bat to end the seventh inning. Ryan Zeferjahn bridged the gap to Jacob Webb, who retired the side in the ninth inning to secure his ninth save of the season.
Suzuki added a double in the eighth inning for the Cubs, who rebounded from a one-hit performance in Thursday’s 7-0 setback to the Washington Nationals and record their ninth win in the last 11 games.
Each team recorded one hit before Chicago finally broke through in the sixth inning to snap a scoreless tie.
Tyrone Taylor walked to lead off the sixth inning against Matthew Liberatore (5-10) and promptly stole second base. Taylor advanced to third base on a single by Dansby Swanson, who also stole second base, Taylor and Swanson were able to trot home after Suzuki deposited a 2-1 changeup from George Soriano over the left-center field wall with one out to stake the Cubs to a 3-0 lead.
Suzuki’s homer was his 21st of the season and second in his last four games.
Liberatore fell to 0-4 in his last five outings despite being charged with just two runs on two hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
Nico Hoerner notched the first hit of the game by either team with a one-out single in the fifth inning. Hoerner stole second base with two outs, however Liberatore struck out Ian Happ to end the inning.
St. Louis benefited from a pair of defensive gems in the fourth inning. Shortstop Masyn Wynn made a diving stop in the hole before throwing out Pete Crow-Armstrong to lead off the inning, while second baseman JJ Wetherholt made a backhanded stop and threw out Suzuki for the second out.