Cardinals 3, White Sox 2
CHICAGO -- Catcher Yadier Molina's bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning helped lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Molina's liner to the right-field corner off right-handed closer David Robertson drove home center fielder Randal Grichuk, pinch runner Pete Kozma and right fielder Jason Heyward.
Robertson relieved Chicago left-hander Zach Duke, who faced bases loaded with two out in the eighth after a single, a hit batter and an interference call against catcher Tyler Flowers.
Duke (3-4) took the loss while Cardinals right-hander Miguel Socolovich (4-1) worked the seventh inning for the win.
St. Louis right-hander Trevor Rosenthal pitched a one-two-three ninth for his 29th save.
The Cardinals (60-34) swept the two-game inter league series in Chicago and split the four-game season series while the White Sox (42-50) suffered their fourth straight defeat.
The loss spoiled another shutout performance by Chicago left-handed starter John Danks.
Danks had no decision after he gave up five hits, struck out five and walked none in 6 2/3 innings of work in a pitchers' duel with Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn.
Lynn had no decision as he pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits, struck out eight and walked just one.
Chicago scored twice in the sixth inning to break the shutout.
First baseman Jose Abreu's single to left drove in second baseman Carlos Sanchez for a 1-0 lead. Sanchez opened the inning with a base hit, reached second on a walk and moved to third when third baseman Tyler Saladino hit into a fielder's choice.
Saladino made it 2-0 when he scored on left fielder Melky Cabrera's base hit to center with one out.
Danks departed with two out in the seventh after throwing 91 pitches and allowing a single and two deep fly balls to start the inning.
Cardinals' designated hitter Matt Holliday was perched in scoring position with two out in the first inning, but stayed put as right fielder Jason Hayward struck out swinging to end the inning.
The White Sox threatened in the third as second baseman Carlos Sanchez reached third following center fielder Adam Eaton's two-out double to left.
That threat also sputtered out when third baseman Tyler Saladino struck out looking on a 3-2 Lynn pitch.
St. Louis missed a scoring chance in the fifth after left fielder Stephen Piscotty's first career double pushed catcher Yadier Molina to third with two out. But second baseman Kolten Wong flied out to center for the third out.
NOTES: St. Louis will host cross-state rival Kansas City on Thursday in an interleague makeup game and then switch back to National League play with a three-game home series with the Atlanta Braves. ... RHP John Lackey (8-5, 2.90 ERA) will make his team-leading 20th start of the season on Thursday. ... First base has been in a state of flux but still has been a productive spot for the Cardinals as four starters have produced a collective 58 RBIs, the most of any position. ... The White Sox wrapped up a 19-series stretch in which they played teams with winning records. Chicago has gone 24-29 in that run. Their next two opponents, Cleveland and Boston, both have losing records. ... The White Sox and Cardinals met for only the third time since 2002. Chicago swept three games at home in 2006 while the Cardinals won two of three at home in 2012. ... The White Sox will send RHP Jeff Samardzija (6-5, 4.08) against Indians RHP Trevor Bauer (8-6, 4.03) on Thursday in the opener of a four-game set in Cleveland.