Fourteen of 15 for Cubs; Cards Win Again

CHICAGO--Whether they're driving the ball over the wall, getting dominant starts or lockdown relief, the Chicago Cubs just keep rolling along

Chris Coghlan hit two home runs, Anthony Rizzo also went deep, and the Northsiders made it eight straight wins and 14 in 15 games with a 6-5 victory over the crosstown White Sox on Friday.

"I think right now, we feel like we're gonna win every game," Coghlan said. "I think that's the reason why we're winning a lot of them. You can say, 'I hope we win a game', but to actually believe it and be in it is totally different than just saying, 'I hope we go win today.'"

The Cubs, coming off a 7-0 homestand, extended their longest win streak since a nine-game run during the 2008 NL Central championship season.

Coghlan hit a three-run homer in the top of the third, and he and Rizzo added back-to-back solo drives off the struggling Jeff Samardzija (8-8) in the fifth to give the Northsiders a 6-5 lead.

Dexter Fowler tripled, doubled and scored two runs. Starlin Castro had three hits in making his first career start at second base, and the Cubs won again even starter Kyle Hendricks got knocked out in the fourth inning.

Four relievers combined to shut down the White Sox the rest of the way, with Clayton Richard (3-0) working two innings.

TONIGHT--Cubs at The Cell, 6:10pm

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ST. LOUIS--Jaime Garcia was disappointed he didn't finish what he started.

But not that disappointed.

Garcia pitched shutout ball into the ninth inning and Matt Carpenter homered, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Miami Marlins 3-1 Friday night.

Garcia (5-4) came within two outs of throwing the first complete game of the season for the NL Central leaders. He gave up six singles, walked one and struck out six.

"I wanted to finish it off," he said. "All I knew was that I was not ready to come out after the eighth, but it's a W, a big one for the team."

Though shoulder injuries ended Garcia's past two seasons and he's been on the disabled list twice this season, he's been effective when he has taken the mound. He lowered his ERA in 11 starts to 1.57.

"The bottom line is, I'm healthy," Garcia said.

Trevor Rosenthal got his 36th save in 38 chances.

TONIGHT--Miami at Busch, 6:15pm