Cubs, Cardinals face off for NLDS Game 2

ST. LOUIS (WLS) -- The Cubs and Cardinals are back at it again Saturday night for Game 2 of the National League Division Series after the Cardinals' Game 1 victory in St. Louis Friday.

Kyle Hendricks will take the mound for the Cubs in his first postseason appearance. Game 2 will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Jon Lester struggled at the beginning and at the end of his outing Friday for the wild-card winners, allowing a run on consecutive hits in the first and then retiring 13 in a row before rookie pinch-hitter Tommy Pham homered to key a pull-away three-run eighth.

"Did a good job of minimizing damage in the first and getting out of there with one, and I guess, right pitch, right time for Pham," Lester said. "Looking for it, threw it, he didn't miss it. Sometimes it happens."

The Cubs managed just three hits against Cardinals pitcher John Lackey and the St. Louis bullpen, putting two on in the ninth before Trevor Rosenthal struck out Kris Bryant looking to end it.

Lackey held the Cubs hitless for five innings, getting help from Bryant' double-play ball by to end the fourth. Addison Russell ended the suspense with a solid single up the middle to open the sixth and Kyle Schwarber's bunt hit leading off the seventh was the only other hit allowed by Lackey in 7 1-3 innings.

Stephen Piscotty added a two-run shot off Pedro Strop for the Cardinals, who turn to lefty Jaime Garcia (10-6) in Game 2 of the best-of-five series on Saturday. Garcia made 20 starts coming off risky thoracic surgery.

Matt Holliday had an RBI single in the first, giving St. Louis a lead after just three at-bats. Pham homered off Lester with one out in the eighth. Two batters later, Piscotty hit a two-run shot off Pedro Strop.

Including their wild-card victory at Pittsburgh, the Cubs had won nine in a row. They haven't scored since the fifth inning of that 4-0 victory, however.

Lester, the Cubs' big offseason free-agent pickup, settled in for an impressive night after the first. Piscotty doubled with one out and scored on Holliday's single. Lester struck out nine and gave up three runs on five hits in 7 1-3 innings.

St. Louis led the majors with 100 wins and finished three games ahead of the Cubs, who are making their first postseason appearance since 2008. The Cardinals were outscored 12-0 the final three games at Atlanta after wrapping up their third straight NL Central title.

After Saturday, the best-of-five series will continue with Game 3 at Wrigley Field. Jake Arrieta is scheduled to pitch for the Cubs.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.