Cubs 2, Cardinals 1
Cubs 2, Cardinals 1: Nate Schierholtz hit a two-run homer and Travis Wood outdueled Lance Lynn to lead host Chicago past rival St. Louis in the opener of a two-game set.
Wood (3-2) turned in his seventh straight quality start to begin the season, allowing one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight. He surrendered a solo homer to Allen Craig in the second but worked out of jams in the third and fourth to keep it close.
The Cubs finally gave him some support in the fourth, when Alfonso Soriano singled with two outs and Schierholtz followed with his fourth home run into the center-field seats.
That was the only mistake for Lynn (5-1), who struck out eight and allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings. He had won his previous 10 decisions dating to last season and came in with a 4-0 all-time mark against the Cubs.
Chicago's maligned bullpen got the job done as Carlos Marmol recorded four outs to get the ball to Kevin Gregg, who remained perfect in five save opportunities.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cardinals C Yadier Molina went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games. … Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo went 0-for-4, snapping a seven-game hitting streak. … Lynn's last loss was Sept. 7 in a relief appearance against Milwaukee.