Cardinals counter Chicago Cubs comeback with one of their own

The Chicago Cubs were one strike away from a stirring comeback victory Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, but Jhonny Peralta's two-out, 2-run homer off Pedro Strop ralled the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 victory.

Strop got two quick outs to start the ninth, but he walked Matt Carpenter before giving up Peralta's drive to left field.

Miguel Montero's bases-loaded 3-run double in the sixth inning erased a 4-2 deficit and helped the Cubs rally and send the crowd of 37,993 into a frenzy.

Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel was forced to leave the game after he pitched 1 inning because of left-hamstring tightness.

Hammel was replaced by left-hander Clayton Richard, who started last Saturday against the Marlins. Richard gave up 2 runs in each of the second and fourth innings as the Cardinals built a 4-0 lead.

The Cubs got 2 back in the fourth. Anthony Rizzo led off with a single, and he scored when Kris Bryant tripled to the gap in right-center. After Jorge Soler struck out, Starlin Castro was credited with an RBI single when he grounded the ball to first baseman Dan Johnson. Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha failed to leave the mound in time to cover first base, and Castro was easily safe.

Singles by Dexter Fowler and Rizzo in the sixth were followed by a popout by Bryant. Soler singled off the pitcher before Castro was called out on strikes.

Montero worked the count to 3-2 before he cleared the bases.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina apparently felt home-plate umpire Pat Hoberg was squeezing Wacha, and Molina was ejected for arguing with Hoberg. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny stormed out of the dugout, and he also was ejected.

The Cubs got important relief work from left-hander Travis Wood, who came on in the fifth and worked 3 shutout innings, striking out five.