ST. LOUIS — At the originally scheduled game time — 6:10 p.m. — for the Cubs and Cardinals’ series finale Sunday, a tornado warning was in effect over Busch Stadium, lightning flashed overhead, and rain pelted the field and ran off the tarp in rivers.
After a 2½-hour delay, Cardinals starter Sonny Gray threw the first pitch of the game, which the Cardinals won 4-3.
The Cubs hoped that their offensive showing Saturday could carry into Sunday and be a turning point in what has been a down month at the plate. They only managed one hit against Gray in five innings and drew two walks.
The Cubs finally scored in the seventh, when Ian Happ delivered a two-run home run. He has had an extra-base hit in each of the last four games he has started. Happ added a solo shot in the ninth.
The Cards’ offense was the first to strike Sunday. Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer off Cubs starter Javier Assad in the third inning to give St. Louis an early lead. Then he hit another in the fifth, and the Cardinals pulled ahead 4-0.
Through five innings, Assad recorded eight strikeouts, tied for a career high. But he also issued three walks. Cubs lefty Drew Smyly took over for Assad to begin the sixth inning. It was his first appearance since a month-long stint on the injured list with a right hip impingement.
The Cubs face a quick turnaround, with Monday’s game in Milwaukee starting at 3:10 p.m.
Happ back in lineup
Left fielder Happ returned to the lineup Sunday. He had been feeling “under the weather” and was not at the ballpark when the Cubs were rained out Friday, manager Craig Counsell said.
By Saturday, he’d improved, and he pinch hit in the ninth inning.
Injury update
Right-hander Keegan Thompson (viral illness) began a rehab assignment, throwing one scoreless inning for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.
Reliever Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain) is headed to Arizona to continue rehabbing.
