The Cubs defeated the Cards 10-3 on Sunday afternoon in St. Louis.  Kosuke Fukodome had a great birthday game – going 3 for 4 with 5 RBI’s, 2 runs scored and 1 walk.  He capped off his great day with a 3-run home run off Trever Miller in the top of the 8th inning to put the game out of reach.  The Cubs finally got to a Cardinals starting pitcher early and often – striking for 8 hits and 6 runs in the 1st 5 innings.

Alfonso Soriano had 2 hits and 2 runs scored back in the leadoff spot, while Ryan Theriot had 1 hit and scored 3 runs in the 2-hole.  Micah Hoffpauir came in in relief for Derrek Lee and had 2 hits with 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored.  In the 8-hole, Aaron Miles had 3 hits and scored 2 runs.  The only bad news was that Derrek Lee had to leave the game with neck spasms and Geovany Soto continues to struggle at the plate.  Soto was 0 for 4 on the day and his average is still at .128.

Rich Harden had a nice outing for the Cubs – 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs – both solo home runs – with only 2 walks.  Harden struck out 9 batters and has faailed to strike out less than 8 batters in each start in 2009.  Pretty incredible.

The Cubs are 9-8, but still trail the Cards by 3 games in the NL Central.  The Cubs continue their road trip with a 3-game swing out to Arizona, before returning to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field with a 4-game series against the NL East-leading Florida Marlins on Thursday night.