Smells like team spirit: Cubs in nirvana after trades at deadline and 2-0 win over Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — The way players in the clubhouse view the trade deadline, the Cubs took the field Wednesday night already leading the Cardinals 3-0.

Right-hander David Phelps was added to the bullpen after being acquired in a trade Tuesday, and the Cubs dealt for hitters Tony Kemp and Nick Castellanos on deadline day Wednesday.

The Cardinals?

Put it this way: When an unexplained stench wafted strongly enough through the downtown St. Louis area early in the game that writers requested their press-box windows be closed, one scribe joked it was caused by the Cards’ malodorous efforts at the deadline.

The Cards added nobody to their big-league roster, and a few hours later they were knocked out of sole possession of first place when the Cubs beat them 2-0 behind another Cardinal-beating gem by Kyle Hendricks.

“I was pumped about it, man,” said Hendricks (7-7), whose seven scoreless, walk-less innings lifted the Cubs to their 11th consecutive victory against the Cards when he starts. “When you make a move, it adds to the excitement for sure, especially when you add good players like we did.”

The Cubs, who are tied with the Cardinals atop the National League Central, still have the worst road record in the NL as they try to win a road series Thursday for the first time since May. But they’re 7-4 against St. Louis with seven meetings left.

Notes: Robel Garcia was optioned to Class AAA Iowa after the game ahead of Nick Castellanos’ arrival Thursday. ... Tony Kemp, who was acquired from the Astros for recently acquired catcher Martin Maldonado, arrived in time Wednesday to be available for the game.