St. Louis Clinches Sweep With Shutout Victory

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Cardinals vs. Cubs Recap: St. Louis Clinches Sweep

With the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates both playing exceptional baseball since the All-Star break, the St. Louis Cardinals knew how important it was to take care of business against the Chicago Cubs. After cruising to victories in the first two games of their series, the Cardinals finished off the sweep with a dominant 7-0 win. The Cardinals outscored the Cubs 23-1 during the three-game set.

Lance Lynn was excellent on the mound, throwing six shutout innings to improve his record to 12-4 this season. Lynn allowed four hits and struck out five batters. At the plate, Jon Jay was excellent, recording hits in all four of his at-bats and driving in two runs. Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran also supplied offensive support, hitting back-to-back home runs off of Travis Wood in the 5th inning.

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.

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Cardinals Vs. Cubs Preview: Lance Lynn, Travis Wood Take Mound

The St. Louis Cardinals can complete a sweep of the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, and they may have to do so just to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. Both the Pirates and Reds, who remain ahead of the Cardinals in the N.L. Central, have won the first two games of their weekend series, and a loss on Sunday could mean that the Cardinals exit the weekend further off than they started.

Leading the Cardinals on Sunday is starter Lance Lynn, who has regained his early season form after a rough stretch of starts to round out June. In his last two starts, Lynn has given up only one run over 13 innings while striking out 17 batters. In 13.1 innings across two starts vs. Chicago this season, Lynn has given up two runs while striking out 12.

His opponent will be Cubs starter Travis Wood. Wood had quietly been on a run of seven straight quality starts dating back to late May before giving up eight earned runs in 4.2 innings to the Miami Marlins this past Tuesday. Wood has not faced the Cardinals yet this season.

Game time/date: Sunday, July 22, 1:15 p.m. CT

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Mo.

TV: WGN

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Cubs Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Big 7th Inning Gives St. Louis 12-0 Win

The St. Louis Cardinals (49-45) managed to turn a pitcher's duel into a blowout on Saturday. After Chicago Cubs (38-55) starter RHP Matt Garza left the game with an injury in the third inning, the Cardinals feasted on the four Cubs relievers RHP Justin Germano, LHP James Russell, RHP Manuel Corpas and RHP Rafael Dolis.

The four pitchers combined to allow 10 hits, 2 walks and 12 runs in the 7th inning -- an inning which had started 0-0. Cardinals starter RHP Jake Westbrook (W, 8-8) got the win for his 7.0 scoreless innings, while SS Rafael Furcal, 2B-RF Skip Schumaker, RF Carlos Beltran, 1B Lance Berkman, 3B David Freese and PH Allen Craig all picked up 2 or more hits -- yet no one homered for either team.

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Cubs Vs. Cardinals Score Update: Game Remains Scoreless

With the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates both playing exceptional baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals know how important staying in the NL Central race will be. After putting an end to their losing streak in the series-opener, the Cardinals and Cubs remain scoreless through six innings.

Jake Westbrook has been dazzling this afternoon for St. Louis, striking out two batters and allowing only three hits in 6 shutout innings. Matt Garza started the game for Chicago and was effective through three innings, but was forced to leave the game because of an apparent injury. Justin Germano replaced Garza and has done an excellent job in relief, allowing just two hits in three innings.

The Cardinals bats have been quiet so far, with no player recording multiple hits.

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Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: Matt Garza Takes The Mound On Saturday Night

The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed a victory on Friday night in the opening game of their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs by striking early in the first inning of play, and they are hoping for more of the same on Saturday. Cubs starter Matt Garza has posted a 5.67 ERA away from Wrigley Field in 2012, so Cardinals should aim to be aggressive at the plate from the opening pitch onward. St. Louis will counter with Jake Westbrook, who has had some struggles at home this year -- 4.53 ERA over 53.2 innings at home -- and may need the run support.

TV: FOX Sports Midwest

Game Time: 6:15 p.m. CT

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

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Cardinals Vs. Cubs Final Score: St. Louis Takes Home 4-1 Victory

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Lohse continued his stellar season on Friday night in the team's 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Lohse threw seven innings, allowing only one earned run on six hits while striking out four and walking one. The Cardinals went up 3-0 in the first inning thanks to singles from Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina and a groundout from Lance Berkman, and didn't look back from there.

That one Cubs run came in the second inning on a Darwin Barney sacrifice fly, but they wouldn't seriously threaten St. Louis after that. Mitchell Boggs and Mark Rzepczynski combined to shut Chicago out in the eighth inning before handing it off to Jason Motte, who collected his 21st save of the season.

Matt Holliday added a solo homer in the fourth to bring the game to 4-1. The two teams will be back on the field on Saturday night at 6:15 p.m. CT.

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Cubs Vs. Cardinals Lineups: Carlos Beltran Gets Another Start In CF

While the trade rumors surrounding the Cubs continue unabated, Ryan Dempster is still with Chicago and set to start Friday night's game against the Cardinals. Carlos Beltran is in center field for St. Louis, with Lance Berkman at first base and Allen Craig in right. The full lineups are below.

St. Louis:

1. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
2. Allen Craig (R) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Carlos Beltran (S) CF
5. Yadier Molina (R) C
6. Lance Berkman (S) 1B
7. David Freese (R) 3B
8. Rafael Furcal (S) SS
9. Kyle Lohse (R) P

Related: Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: Trade Rumors Cast Shadow On Series

Chicago:

1. David DeJesus (L) CF
2. Starlin Castro (R) SS
3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano (R) LF
5. Bryan LaHair (L) RF
6. Steve Clevenger (L) C
7. Darwin Barney (R) 2B
8. Luis Valbuena (L) 3B
9. Ryan Dempster (R) P

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.