Chris Carpenter and Carlos Zambrano each pitched 7 innings and the game was tied at 4-4 when both pitchers departed.  But the Cards got the best of the Kerry Wood in the 8th inning, scoring 2 runs off of the dependable righty.  Wood allowed 2 hits and 3 walks in the inning as the 2 winning runs scored on Daniel Descalso’s 2-out bases loaded single.

The Cubs pounded out 13 hits and drew 3 walks, but only managed to score 4 runs.  The 1st inning set the tone once again.  The 1st 4 Cubs batters reached base as they scored 2 runs on Aramis Ramirez’s single up the middle.  But with 1st and 2nd and nobody out, Alfonso Soriano grounded into a double play and even though the Cubs loaded the bases again, they failed to push across another run.  Ramirez ended the night with 3 hits and the 2 RBI’s, while Darwin Barney had 3 hits and 2 runs scored.  Marlon Byrd also had 2 hits and 1 run scored.  In the 7-hole, Starlin Castro came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th inning which tied the game at 4.

Zambrano gave up 4 ER on 8 hits and 2 walks in his outing.  He did not factor in the decision.

Matt Garza goes up against Jake Westbrook in game 2 of the series tonight.  They need Garza to be the “stopper” tonight if they look to avoid the sweep with the Cards having a favorable match-up tomorrow – Jaime Garcia (4-0, 1.99 ERA) v. Casey Coleman (1-2, 6.29 ERA).  Good luck with that one…