CUBS STEAL NIGHTCAP IN WILD NORTH SIDE SHOOTING

CARDINALS FIGHT BACK REPEATEDLY, BUT CHICAGO ESCAPES WITH 8-7 VICTORY AFTER HOLIDAY CROWD SEES BOTH CLUBS TRADE HAYMAKERS

— If the opening game of Monday's doubleheader resembled a careful boxing match, the second looked more like a saloon brawl that spilled through the front window and into the street.

By the time the dust settled, the Cubs were still standing.

Barely.

Chicago survived a furious Cardinal comeback and captured the second game of the Memorial Day twin bill, 8 to 7, preventing St. Louis from climbing above the .500 shelf and splitting a day that could easily have belonged entirely to the Redbirds.

The defeat left the Cardinals at 23 victories and 24 defeats.

And unlike several recent losses, this one carried a particularly sour taste.

Because St. Louis had opportunities.

Plenty of them.

The afternoon began with the Cardinals still carrying momentum from their 5-to-3 victory in the opener. The dugout felt lively. The bats looked awake. The club had finally erased the Cincinnati damage and stood one victory away from a winning record.

Then the Cubs started firing.

Chicago struck early and often.

The Cardinals answered.

Chicago scored again.

The Cardinals answered again.

For much of the afternoon neither club could gain complete control. The scoreboard operator worked harder than either starting pitcher as runs crossed the platter from nearly every direction imaginable.

The go-ahead blow ultimately belonged to Chicago during the late innings.

After the clubs spent most of the afternoon exchanging punches, the Cubs finally landed the run that stayed landed. From that point forward St. Louis spent the remainder of the game trying to chase down a train that had already left the station.

The featured figure for the Cardinals is Bill Hallahan.

Unfortunately, not for reasons the Redbirds would prefer.

The young southpaw possesses one of the liveliest arms in organized baseball. On some afternoons he looks capable of striking out half the National League. On others he resembles a fellow trying to throw lightning through a keyhole.

Monday's nightcap contained too much of the latter.

Hallahan battled, but Chicago consistently forced him into difficult situations. The Cubs made him work from behind and eventually collected enough offense to put the Cardinals in permanent pursuit.

The Cubs received victory from Charlie Root, who managed to survive despite the Cardinals continuing to pressure him deep into the game.

That pressure deserves mention.

Unlike several earlier losses this season, St. Louis never quit.

The Cardinals repeatedly fought back into the argument and nearly stole the affair despite spending much of the afternoon trailing.

That resilience has become one of the defining characteristics of Hornsby's club.

They may lose.

But they rarely stay buried.

The offensive stars were spread throughout the lineup.

Several Cardinals supplied timely safeties while the club continued displaying the stronger batting form that first appeared during the Philadelphia series. The lineup currently looks considerably more dangerous than it did earlier in May when entire afternoons passed without anybody delivering the necessary wallop.

The standings, however, remain stubborn.

Instead of climbing above .500, the Cardinals find themselves once again trying to reach it.

That has become one of the season's recurring themes.

Every advance seems followed by another setback.

Every climb meets another hill.

Meanwhile the Cubs celebrated as though they had pulled off a major heist. Truth be told, they spent most of the afternoon looking like a gang of North Side stick-up men dividing loot before discovering the police were still standing outside.

Chicago got the money.

But only by a whisker.

One encouraging note for St. Louis remains Taylor Douthit.

The young center fielder continues looking increasingly comfortable and remains one of the club's hottest performers entering June. What appeared impossible a month ago now seems entirely plausible: Douthit may become an important everyday contributor before summer is finished.

The split leaves the series balanced and the pressure squarely on both clubs moving into the next contest.

One question now hangs over the Cardinals:

When this club finally gets back above .500, can it stay there?

Bird Chatter readers undoubtedly have opinions on that matter, and after watching this roller-coaster month unfold, they likely have plenty of evidence to support them.

— Mike Allen

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