CHICAGO • Whatever intentions the Cardinals had of keeping pace in the scramble for the National League wild-card berth or showing the Cubs that they could be reckoned with when October arrives in a few weeks felt flat on its face in the first inning Friday afternoon.
The Cubs capitalized on a series of misadventures by Cardinals starting pitcher Mike Leake and the defense behind him for a 5-0 victory at Wrigley Field.
The Cardinals slipped a full game behind the Giants and the Mets in the wild-card standings. Both of those teams play later tonight.