Final
  for this game

Schierholtz powers Cubs past Cardinals

May 8, 2013 - 5:49 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Nate Schierholtz hit a two-run homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

Alfonso Soriano had two hits and scored a run for the Cubs, who have won two straight games.

Travis Wood (3-2) allowed just one run -- a solo homer -- on five hits while striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings. Kevin Gregg worked a perfect ninth to pick up his fifth save.

"He's been one of the best starters in baseball so far, he's got it figured out," Cubs manager Dave Sveum said of Wood. "He's been able to pitch to both side of the plate. He can do pretty much whatever he wants with ball right now."

Allen Craig smacked his second homer of the season for the Cardinals' lone run. Lance Lynn (5-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season after giving up two runs on four hits while striking out eight over seven frames.

Schierholtz put the Cubs in front with his two-run shot in the fourth. Soriano reached on a two-out single to right field and Schierholtz followed with his fourth homer of the season to put Chicago up 2-1.

St. Louis had two runners on in the eighth inning. Yadier Molina singled then stole second base. Jon Jay then worked a walk, but Molina was caught trying to steal third with two outs to end the threat.

"We had guys in scoring position. We've been talking about how those situations that haven't been that frequent. Tonight it didn't happen. Sometimes you have those kind of nights," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

Starlin Castro ripped a two-out double in the home half and Anthony Rizzo followed with a towering fly ball to center, but it was caught against the wall to end the inning.

Craig cracked a leadoff homer in the second to give the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead.

Game Notes

The Cubs have hit 40 home runs as a team this season ... Chicago owns a 1,173-1,114 edge in the all-time series (since 1892) ... Lynn's last regular- season loss was Sept. 7 2012 against the Brewers.