by Boutros Boutros Ghali

The Cubs jumped out on top of the Satanic Fowl in the first and second innings yet again in St. Louis, but unlike the first two games, the Left On Base number grew while the Cubs score did not. Lester pitched well for seven innings, but Strop's dead relatives were embarrassed in the 8th and the Cubs could not hold on to the sweep. 

Big Boss Cogg got the hitting started for the Cubs on Wednesday with a two out single into right field against Cardinals starter Carl Martin. Plunk Rizzo then shot a ball into right center field to Randy Upchuck to start one of the oddest plays in baseball this year. 

Upchuck left his elbow in the locker room and could not throw the ball far or hard. So when Rizzo hit it out to him in right center field, Upchuck relayed the ball over to Jason Heyward so that he could throw the ball back to the infield. 

That little delay made it easy for Coggs to make the run from first base all the way home for the first run of the game. Rizzo had an easy double, but decided to push it against the late throw from the outfield. Rizzo attempted to go to third base and the Cardinals got him in a run down between 2nd and 3rd base. 

Normally, a player in a rundown is out. It's just a matter of time before the runner gets tagged. On this particular play though, Carl Martin was unaware that the play was continuing and he was still behind home plate when the rundown started. The pitcher did not back up third base and Rizzo was in safely on the error. Cubs lead 1-0. 

LaStella then made the score 2-0 on a ground rule double that bounced off the warning track in the left field corner. Rizzo scored and it looked like the Cubs were about to put up another big number against the birds. 

Johnny Paycheck was happy to have the two run lead because Matt Carpenter dropped a triple on him in the first at bat. Heyward not only helps his teammates out by throwing their balls for them, but he also drives in runs with singles. Carpenter scores and the Cubs lead is cut in half 2-1. 

Lester was able to get out of the inning with no further issues and then makes up for allowing a triple by getting his second hit of the year in the second inning. 

Jon Lester's offensive woes have been well covered and publicized, but it seems he likes to make the Cardinals look foolish by using them as the butt of his hitting joke. In the second inning, with one out, the limp batting pitcher went opposite field with a single to make Carl Martin only the second pitcher to have that blemish on his stat sheet. 

Russell and Fowler each followed with singles to send Lester around third and on his way home. Normally, Lester would have been held at third base, but once again, the ball was fielded by Upchuck and he could not throw the ball. Cubs lead 3-1. 

Johnny Paycheck took that ball and shoved it straight down the Cardinals' throats for the next six innings. The Cardinals only got two hits off the veteran ace and those were in the first inning. Lester dominated with 7 Ks and only one walk the rest of the way. 

Unfortunately, the Cubs offense finally sputtered out after 20 runs in the series. The Handsome Youngsters continued to get on base, but they never strung any of them together for the rest of the game. The Cubs had six hits in the first two innings and five for the next seven innings. 

Lester left the game in the bottom of the 8th inning with 105 pitches. The Cubs were up by 2 runs with six outs to go and the formerly solid bullpen should have been able to handle it. Unfortunately, they could not. 

Pedro Strop had embarrassed his dead relatives on Tuesday, so Maddon threw him back out there to redeem himself on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the hat tilt was set to one out and Pedro did not have his command. He gave up a walk and a single and Captain Hook called on Clayton Richard. 

Just like the day before, Clayton Richard was called upon to face Matt Carpenter. Unlike the day before, Carpenter got a hit instead of an out and it scored a run for the Cardinals. Captain Hook returned to the mound and Richard was done. 

Fernando Rodney came on with two runners and a one run lead. The Leprechaun immediately gave up a double to a Spiccoli that scored two runs and the Cardinals had the lead for the first time in the series. Cubs 3-Cardinals 4. 

The biggest surprise of the late game breakdown was that the Best Fans In Baseball had already abandoned their team with only a two run deficit. By the time the Cardinals came back, Busch Stadium was half empty. 

So, despite the early idiocy, the Cardinals' devil magic returned and they eked out a win in the seventh inning. 

That's your Reckless Recap. Go Cubs!