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Jones' bat, glove help Cubs deck Cards

Aug 18, 2007 - 3:48 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jacque Jones was responsible for plating two runs and perhaps saving another on Friday.

Jones belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning and made a potential run-saving catch in the field as the Chicago Cubs edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1.

The victory, coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers' 8-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, lifted the Cubs (62-59) into first place in the National League Central Division. The Brewers are now 62-60.

St. Louis (58-61) saw its five-game winning streak come to a halt and fell three games behind Milwaukee.

"It was a game that was well played," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "There was good pitching and good defense, the only difference was that their center fielder (Jones) had a big hit. His big hit was bigger than our big hit."

Jones' blast - his fifth of the season - helped continue his hot hitting. He went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in Chicago's 12-4 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. During his season-high nine-game hitting streak, Jones is 19-for-39 with three homers and 13 RBIs.

"When I hit the home run, I felt good for the guys and the team," Jones said. "We are getting down to the nitty gritty now. Anytime we can do something positive, it's good."

Jones' glove also played a part in this one.

With Yadier Molina on first in the fifth, Brendan Ryan launched a fly ball to center field that seemed destined for extra bases. Jones went back to the warning track and robbed Ryan with an over-the-shoulder grab against the ivy that brought a pronounced cheer from the Wrigley Field faithful.

"The ball was hit good but I got a jump on it," Jones said. "My only concern was hitting the wall. I went full out, when I hit the little strip of grass behind the track, I knew it would be close."

Also producing cheers was Chicago starter Rich Hill (7-7), who allowed one run and three hits while striking out seven.

"It was a good-pitched game on both sides," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Hill did a nice job, we were fortunate to come out on top."

His one mistake resulted in a solo blast in the sixth inning by Albert Pujols, his 26th homer of the season.

"That is what it's all about: great pitching. There were a couple of mistakes on both sides," Pujols said. "I had a great chance to tie the game in the eighth inning, I just got under the ball a little bit."

Bobby Howry pitched the eighth and Ryan Dempster retired the side in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

"It's nice to win the opening game of a series," Howry said. "It's been a while since we have been able to do that. It sets the tone for the next three games."

Braden Looper (10-10) was the hard-luck loser after allowing just two runs and four hits in six innings. Entering Friday's game, the righthander had won both starts against Chicago this season, limiting the Cubs to a .196 batting average.

"I felt like I was in control of the game," Looper said. "I just made a bad pitch at a bad time. You have to tip your cap to Jacque. It was the only pitch I gave him to hit all day."