Kim Delivers His Own Birthday Gift Pitching Cardinals to 3-2 Win Over Cubs

St. Louis lefthander Kwang Hyun Kim celebrated his 33rd birthday Thursday by pitching the Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. The largest crowd of the season at Busch Stadium, 41,412, saw Kim win his fifth consecutive start.

It was quite a day for Kim. Not only did he get the win, and not only was it his birthday, but Kim also had to put his family members back on a plane to South Korea Thursday morning as their 10-day visit ended. His children, ages 7 and 5, were among the group headed home. 

Dylan Carlson led off the Cardinals' half of the first inning with a home run and also doubled twice in the game. Nolan Arenado's two-run homer in the third was the difference in the contest.

Adbert Alzolay took the loss for the Cubs, who lost three of four in the series. Jake Marisnick drove in the two Cubs' runs in the fourth. 

The Cardinals are in Cincinnati to start a weekend series tonight. The Cubs are home this weekend to Arizona. 

The win pushed the Cardinals back over .500, while the Cubs are now 47-50.