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Cardinals rout Cubs in series finale

May 12, 2011 - 11:47 PM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jon Jay drove in three runs and Jaime Garcia tossed seven solid innings, as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs, 9-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Jay, Colby Rasmus and Yadier Molina each had three hits for the Cardinals, who have won six of their last nine games. Garcia (5-0) allowed one run on a season-high nine hits and struck out four.

"That's always a good sign when a pitcher comes out of the bullpen after warming up and doesn't have his best stuff, but is still able to go out and pitch the game that he did," said Cardinals acting manager Joe Pettini.

Jeff Baker went 3-for-4 and knocked in the lone run for Chicago, which has dropped three of four. Cubs starter Casey Coleman (1-3) surrendered six runs on nine hits and walked four in 4 1/3 innings.

St. Louis put up a five-spot in the second. Matt Holliday led off the frame by clubbing his fifth home run of the season. Rasmus then singled and Molina followed with a double. After Coleman intentionally walked Tyler Greene to load the bases, Garcia helped his own cause with an RBI single before Jay doubled home a pair. Allen Craig's sacrifice fly made it 5-0.

The Cardinals tacked on another run in the fifth, as Molina singled home Rasmus.

Chicago got on the board in the sixth after three consecutive singles by Marlon Byrd, Aramis Ramirez and Baker produced a run. The lone walk issued by Garcia loaded the bases with one out, but the left-hander retired Alfonso Soriano on a pop-up, then fanned Welington Castillo to escape further damage.

"[We] want to do better with guys in scoring position," Baker said.

Nick Punto capped a three-run seventh with an RBI double, extending St. Louis' lead to 9-1. Greene and Jay also knocked in runs during the inning.

Game Notes

Garcia lowered his ERA to 1.89...The Cardinals recorded seven doubles and finished 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position...Byrd has now hit safely in 13 straight games.