After being benched earlier in the season and damn-near traded, Jacque Jones was the hero on Friday afternoon.
The Chicago Cubs outfielder made a sweet over-the-shoulder catch in the fifth inning, running full speed ahead into the brick ivy wall and hit a two-run bomb that led his club to a 2-1 victory to end the St. Louis Cardinals' five-game winning streak and punch the Cubbies into a half game NL Central lead.
St. Louis starter Braden Looper (10-10, 4.98 ERA) allowed just 2 runs off 4 hits over six innings, striking out four but walking three.
Albert Pujols' 26th homer of the season put the Cards ahead in the sixth, but Ryan Theriot's single the other way and Jones' longball in the bottom half put the Cubs back on top.
Chicago starter Rich Hill (7-7, 3.73 ERA) evened up his record after going seven strong innings to surrender only three hits with seven K's. He walked two and allowed only Pujols' homer on the board. Ryan Dempster worked the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
The Cubs were hoping their NL Central first place tie would turn into the lead after the Brewers played later in the evening, and they got their wish. Milwaukee dropped another one, this time to the Cincinnati Reds, 8-3.
1 comment:
Sometimes I'm sad when I think about the Twins letting Jones go, but then I remember how inconsistent he is and I'm cool with it again.
He's one, along with Stew, that I'm still pumped for when they're kickin ass.
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