Cardinals Win, Cubs Lose In Opening Playoff Games

Wednesday.A four-run first inning gave the St. Louis Cardinals the momentum as they tallied a 7-4 victory over San Diego in the National League Wild Card Series Wednesday.

Paul Goldschmidt's two-run homer led the Cardinals in the right direction followed by Yadier Molina's single that produced another run. 

A two-run third was produced by Dylan Carlson's one-out single, his second hit of the day. Molinda doubled and Paul DeJong had an RBI single and Matt Carpenter also had an RBI single.

The Cardinals finished out with one in the ninth and pounded out 13 total hits in the contest.

Marlins 5, Cubs 1

It isn't going well for the Chicago Cubs. Kyle Hendricks took the mound, one of the most trusted Cubs pitchers. Hendricks led the way through, getting out of several situations. But then came the fateful seventh inning.

The Cubs held a 1-0 lead when Corey Dickerson connected on a Hendricks pitch that went over the wall for a three-run homer in the seventh. By the time the dust had cleared, the Marlins held a 5-1 lead.

But the real responsibility lay with the Cubs' offense. Chicago could muster only four hits in the contest that produced one run.

Next up for the Cubs, Yu Darvish who has to take the win or the Cubs will be eliminated.

Fans Allowed at World Series

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that fans will be allowed at the World Series as well as the National League Championship Series, both of which are being played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Some 11,500 tickets will be sold for each game, which is about 28 percent of the stadium's capacity.

There will be distancing and face masks required. It will be the first time fans have been allowed at games since MLB's coronavirus-delayed and -shortened season began.

The World Series is being played at a neutral site for the first time due to the pandemic. 

Major League Baseball

Wednesday, September 30 Scoreboard

Wild Card

St. Louis 7, San Diego 4 -- St. Louis leads series 1-0 (NL)

Miami 5, Chicago Cubs 1 -- Miami leads series 1-0 (NL)

Oakland 5, Chicago White Sox 3 -- Series tied 1-1 (AL)

New York Yankees 10, Cleveland 9 -- New York Yankees win series 2-0 (AL)

Tampa Bay 8, Toronto 2 -- Tampa Bay wins series 2-0 (AL)

Houston 3, Minnesota 1 -- Houston wins series 2-0 (AL)

Atlanta 1, Cincinnati 0 (F/13) -- Atlanta lead series 1-0 (NL)

Los Angeles Dodges 4, Milwaukee 2 -- Los Angeles Dodgers leads series 1-0 (NL)

Major League Baseball Schedule

Thursday, October 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 11 a.m. (ESPN)

NLWC -- Game 2

Miami at Chicago Cubs, 1 p.m. (ABC)

NLWC -- Game 2

Chicago White Sox at Oakland, 2 p.m. (ESPN)

ALWC -- Game 3, if necessary

St. Louis at San Diego, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

NLWC -- Game 2

Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

NLWC -- Game 2

Friday, October 2 Schedule (All Times Central)

Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

NLWC -- Game 3, if necessary

Miami at Chicago Cubs, 1 p.m. (ABC)

NLWC -- Game 3, if necessary

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 2 p.m. (ESPN)

NLWC -- Game 3, if necessary

St. Louis at San Diego, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

NLWC -- Game 3, if necessary

Saturday, October 3

No games scheduled

Sunday, October 4

No games scheduled