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Cubs falter in 8th again, Cards rally for 6-4 win

CHICAGO (AP) - After watching his bullpen meltdown in the eighth inning for a second straight game, manager Joe Maddon tried to focus on the bright side:

At least the Chicago Cubs split the four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"It's not awful," Maddon said. "Of course, after winning the first two, you'd like to do more, and we were in a position to."

Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.

That came a day after St. Louis erupted for six runs in the eighth to break open a 2-all tie in an 8-4 win.

Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 because of a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.

"I feel really good, but today I know I missed the location and they got me," Rondon said. "It's hard for me right now because we lose the game. I feel like it's my fault."

The Cubs had an 11-game winning streak before Saturday. The Cardinals pulled within 12 games in the NL Central.

Cubs starter John Lackey allowed only one unearned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the seventh with muscle stiffness. Chicago doesn't consider the injury serious.

"I've been feeling a little tight but nothing crazy," Lackey said. "Believe me, I've been through a lot worse."

Lackey was sailing along and struck out five in his fourth straight solid start. But the right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Grichuk, walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm. The reliever then struck out Grichuk.

Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh in relief of starter Mike Leake for the win. After coming in with runners on first and third, Bowman walked Willson Contreras to load the bases with no out. After pinch-hitter Matt Szczur flied out to shallow center, Bowman struck out Dexter Fowler and got Kris Bryant to fly out to right to end the threat.

"That was huge," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "That's the game-changer right there. That's one of those momentum shifts."

Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.

After the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead in the eighth, Rizzo hit his 25th homer in the bottom half.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: Rondon said before the game he was "100 percent ready." He allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Chicago has Monday off, then hosts Milwaukee in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 3.07) is expected to come off the DL (right knee tendinitis) and start in the opener against Brewers RHP Matt Garza (4-4, 4.83). Chicago's Jason Hammel (12-5, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA since the All-Star break and will take the mound in the nightcap against RHP Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.93).

Clouds lit by the setting sun move above Wrigley Field during the fourth inning of a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) The Associated Press
Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo watches his RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) The Associated Press
Chicago Cubs starter John Lackey delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) The Associated Press
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant watches his triple during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Chicago. St. Louis won 6-4. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) The Associated Press
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