ST. LOUIS _ On a night of solo home runs at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals came up just a bit short.
The Cardinals dropped their Friday night opener to the Cubs, 3-2, as the visitors launched three solo shots on the evening, two from catcher Willson Contreras. The loss snaps the Cardinals' six-game winning streak.
In the bottom of the ninth, though, Contreras nearly handed the game back to the Cardinals. Second baseman Kolten Wong struck out with a runner on second to seemingly end the game, but Contreras threw the dropped-third strike into right field and allowed the runner to score.
Pinch hitter Matt Adams then struck out to end the game.
Cardinals starter Mike Leake continued to pitch well, but was victim to Contreras's homers. Leake threw six solid innings giving up the two Contreras home runs and three other hits while striking out five and walking three.
The team's ERA leader saw his average rise from 1.79 to 1.94.
Reliever Brett Cecil got the Cardinals into a bigger hole after Leake left in the seventh. Cecil came in to face the three lefties at the top of the Cubs' lineup and only retired one _ he gave up a solo home run to second baseman Tommy La Stella and walked first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals could not get anything going on offense after averaging more than seven runs per game on their winning streak. Cubs starter Eddie Butler, making his first MLB start of the year, allowed just two hits throughout his six innings of work.
The home team's lone run came on a Randal Grichuk solo home run _ the fourth solo home run of the night _ in the bottom of the seventh.
The Cardinals had a chance to tie, or possibly take the lead, immediately following the Grichuk homer, as Greg Garcia and Dexter Fowler both reached base via walks. But Fowler was picked off of first base by Contreras to end the inning.
After Jonathan Broxton and Kevin Siegrist each pitched scoreless innings in relief, the Cardinals seemed like they had a chance to rally in the bottom of the ninth against closer Wade Davis. Catcher Yadier Molina singled to left field to open the frame, but shortstop Aledmys Diaz then grounded into a double play to erase the runner. The poor defense with Contreras then ensued.
The teams will go at it again Saturday, with Carlos Martinez and Jon Lester the expected starting pitchers.
