Cardinals 3, Cubs 2 (10)
ST. LOUIS -- The Chicago Cubs' five-man infield backfired in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Right fielder Mike Baxter's throwing error on a bouncer to the right side by shortstop Jhonny Peralta scored the winning run Friday night as the St. Louis Cardinals pulled out a 3-2 victory at sold-out Busch Stadium.
Pinch-hitter Peter Bourjos started the winning rally with a leadoff double to the wall in left field off reliever Justin Grimm (1-2), Chicago's sixth pitcher.
Second baseman Kolten Wong followed with an infield hit off second base and third baseman Matt Carpenter was intentionally walked, setting the stage for the unusual game-winner.
Reliever Seth Maness (2-0) got the last two outs of the 10th for the win as St. Louis (49-24) maintained an eight-game lead in the National League Central over Pittsburgh. The Cubs (39-33) dropped 9 1/2 games off the pace after their third straight loss.
The Cardinals tied it in the eighth in stunning fashion with rookie pinch-hitter Greg Garcia's first career homer over the center field wall against reliever Pedro Strop. It was St. Louis' first pinch-hit blast in 88 at-bats this year.
Neither starter was involved in the decision despite posting quality starts.
Chicago's Jake Arrieta gave up three hits and a run in seven innings, walking two and fanning seven.
St. Louis' John Lackey scattered eight hits in seven innings, giving up two runs and walking three with five strikeouts. The Cubs managed just one hit in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position during Lackey's outing.
St. Louis broke out on top in the bottom of the second. Left fielder Randal Grichuk rifled a one-out triple to the wall in right center that scored catcher Yadier Molina, who drew a walk after an eight-pitch at-bat.
Chicago evened the score in the fourth when right fielder Mike Baxter slashed a first-pitch single to right that plated catcher Miguel Montero, who started the inning with a walk and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by shortstop Starlin Castro.
That was the Cubs' only hit in six at-bats with men in scoring position through five innings. They stranded eight men on bases, leaving the sacks filled in the fourth when center fielder Dexter Fowler was retired on a broken-bat liner to second.
NOTES: St. Louis LHP Jaime Garcia (groin cramp) is in line to make his next start Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox, according to general manager John Mozeliak. Garcia left Wednesday night's 6-1 win in Miami in the eighth inning after limping home following a base hit. ... Chicago 3B Kris Bryant (flu-like symptoms) was back in the lineup Friday night after leaving Thursday's game with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the third inning. ... Cardinals LF Matt Holliday (quad) will try running next week to gauge his progress. If he can run without pain, Holliday, who has been out since June 9, could go on a rehab assignment.