Sept. 21--The Cubs' attempt to earn their first three-game sweep of the rival Cardinals since 2006 fell short Sunday in a 4-3 loss at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals tagged Jon Lester for three runs in the first inning before the Cubs rallied with a two-run single by Anthony Rizzo in the third and a bases-loaded walk by Tommy La Stella in the eighth.
At the plate
The Cubs mounted a rally in the ninth when Starlin Castro led off with a single, but pinch runner Quintin Berry was thrown out trying to steal second base.
On the mound
Neil Ramirez, making a late bid to be on the Cubs' postseason roster, pitched a perfect eighth. Ramirez threw a big breaking slider to complement his 93-mph fastball.
In the field
Lester got out of a jam by picking Jhonny Peralta off first base to end the third. Catcher David Ross threw out Brandon Moss on a steal attempt in the second and picked Stephen Piscotty off first in the fourth.
Key at-bat
Miguel Montero struck out on a 100-mph fastball from Trevor Rosenthal to end the eighth.
Key number
3 -- Career hits by Lester -- all against the Cardinals.
The quote
"It's just about making adjustments. We gave them some games early and we're playing them down to the wire now." -- the Cubs' Dexter Fowler
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