New manager John Maddon and the Chicago Cubs might have their sights on a brighter future, but the St. Louis Cardinals reminded them that they are still the Cubs. Adam Wainwright and Matt Holliday lead the Cardinals to a 3-0 win over the Cubs on Opening Night at Wrigley Field.
Wainwright completely shut down the Cubs, giving up just five hits over six innings with six strikeouts. When he left the mound, the Cards bullpen took over, with Carlos Martinez, Jordan Walden and Trevor Rosenthal holding the Cubs hitless through the final three innings. Rosenthal got the save.
“He's good,” Maddon said of Wainwright, who made his fourth Opening Day start, notes MLB.com. “You have to beat good pitchers to get to the playoffs. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. I have a lot of respect for him, but that's how this thing works. I want us to see the best pitchers.”
On the offensive side, Holliday was the star, with two hits and two RBIs. Jason Heyward, who joined the Cards after five seasons with the Braves, also had three hits, including a double.
Starting the season with the Cards was a stroke of bad luck for the Cubs, who hope that Maddon and pitcher Jon Lester can finally lead them to glory. But, as St. Louis Today.com notes, the Cards haven’t lost an Opening Day to the Cubs since 1971. The teams have faced off to start a season 31 times.
The Cubs’ offense was stagnant and Lester did not get off to a good start with the team. He only made it through four and a third innings, giving up eight hits and three earned runs.