Home cookin': Cubs feast on Redbirds
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
CHICAGO -- Derrek Lee hit his second homer to christen the new Wrigley Field bleachers and back Greg Maddux as the Chicago Cubs posted a 5-1 victory Friday over the St. Louis Cardinals in the home opener.
Maddux (1-0), who turns 40 in one week, gave up one run on Jim Edmonds' solo homer in the seventh. The veteran right-hander served up four hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings.
Lee, who came into the game 12-for-25 against Jeff Suppan (0-1), connected with two out in the first, a line drive that pierced the 25-mph northeast wind. Friday marked the unveiling of the 1,800 new bleacher seats, part of a renovation of the area.
With two out in the Cubs' second, Ronny Cedeno hit an RBI triple, driving in Matt Murton, who had walked, to put the Cubs ahead, 2-0.
Neifi Perez singled and Lee walked with one out in the third when Aramis Ramirez hit a grounder to shortstop David Eckstein whose throw skipped past second and into shallow right. Perez scored on the error. Suppan intentionally walked Jacque Jones to load the bases and Michael Barrett then hit an RBI single to make it 4-0.
In the fourth, Cedeno doubled and advanced when Maddux showed bunt, then chopped an infield grounder. Juan Pierre attempted a suicide squeeze, but his bunt was foul. He came through with an RBI single.
Murton also made a solid defensive play in the fourth when he caught Edmonds' fly ball and threw to first to double up Juan Encarnacion, who had underestimated the left fielder's defensive ability.
Suppan gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks over five innings.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.