Mark Ellis went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Matt Adams added two hits and drove in a run for the Cardinals, who were in danger of their first sweep at Wrigley Field since July 2006. Kevin Siegrist (1-1) struck out the side in the eighth inning to earn the win and Trevor Rosenthal stranded the tying run at second in the ninth for his eighth save.

Cubs starter Jason Hammel allowed three runs over six innings and added a two-run single in the fourth to keep Chicago in it. Luis Valbuena tripled and scored in the seventh to forge a tie and added an RBI double in the ninth.

Randal Grichuk tripled in a run and scored on Ellis' double in the second before Adams added an RBI double in the third to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Hammel's two-run single cut the deficit to one and Valbuena raced home with the tying run on Carlos Martinez's wild pitch in the seventh.

Hector Rondon (0-1) gave up a pair of walks and a single to load the bases ahead of Molina's two-run single in the ninth. Valbuena doubled home Emilio Bonifacio with two outs in the ninth to give the Cubs a chance, but Anthony Rizzo grounded out to first to end the threat.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cubs SS Starlin Castro went 0-for-4 to snap his seven-game hitting streak. … St. Louis RHP Lance Lynn went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. … Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia left his rehab start at Double-A Springfield after being hit by a pitch in the left elbow during an at-bat. Garcia will return to St. Louis for re-evaluation.