Cubs avert sweep on Fox's two-run homer in 11th

BY DAVID WILHELM - News-Democrat

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ST. LOUIS -- Jake Fox hit a two-run homer off Mitchell Boggs in the 11th inning Sunday night, giving the Chicago Cubs a wild 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The blast enabled the Cubs to escape with one win in the series. The Cardinals, whose magic number for clinching the National League Central remained at four, won the first two games of the series in the bottom of the ninth inning --3-2 on Friday on Matt Holliday's home run, 2-1 on Saturday on Brendan Ryan's hit.

Boggs struck out Ryan Theriot to open the 11th, but Andres Blanco singled. Fox connected for his 11th homer of the season on an 0-1 pitch from Boggs (2-3), sending it into the second row of the bleachers in left-center field.

Chicago added an insurance run on Brad Thompson's wild pitch.

Esmailin Caridad (1-0) was the winner for the Cubs. Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

The ninth inning ended with controversy.

The Cardinals had the bases loaded with one out when Ryan Ludwick hit a sharp grounder to Cubs second baseman Blanco, who shoveled the ball to shortstop Theriot coming across the bag.

Theriot got the force and made a wide throw to first that forced Derrek Lee to attempt a sweeping tag on Ludwick. Lee missed, and the Cardinals had seemingly won the game.

But second-base umpire Marty Foster called out Holliday for leaving the basepath and going after Theriot, and a 4-6-3 double play enabled the Cubs to escape.

Adam Wainwright pitched effectively for the Cardinals, but received no decision as he trailed 3-2 when he departed after seven innings. It was Wainwright's second attempt to nail down victory No. 19.

Wainwright allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Wainwright's season-high in strikeouts this season is 12.

Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano also wasn't involved in the decision. Zambrano worked six innings, permitted two runs (earned) on five hits, walked three and struck out six.

For more on the Cardinals, see Monday's News-Democrat or visit www.bnd.com.

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