Holmes shines in 1st home start, Suzuki hits homer, Cubs beat Cardinals 3-0

Clay Holmes and three Chicago Cubs relievers combined to allow just three hits, as Seiya Suzuki's three-run homer in the sixth inning propelled the Cubs to a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Holmes (5-5), making his second start and first at Wrigley Field since being acquired from the New York Mets, retired the first 16 batters he faced. Dominican José Fermín broke up the perfect game bid with a single in the sixth inning. After missing three months due to a fractured right fibula before the trade, Holmes struck out three, walked one, and allowed only one hit in 6 2/3 innings. He received a standing ovation from the home crowd as he exited the game. Ryan Rolison, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Jacob Webb followed him on the mound. Webb pitched the ninth for his ninth save.

“

After losing three months of activity due to a fracture of the right fibula before the trade, Holmes struck out three, gave a base on balls and allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings.

Through the first five innings, Matthew Liberatore (5-10) matched Holmes's performance. He retired his first 13 batters before Nico Hoerner singled in the fifth. Liberatore encountered trouble in the sixth, allowing the first two batters to reach base before retiring Pete Crow-Armstrong on a foul pop-up and handing the ball to Dominican George Soriano.

On the first pitch from Soriano, Suzuki connected with a two-seam fastball, sending the ball an estimated 390 feet over the left-field wall for his 21st home run of the season. Suzuki also added a double in the eighth inning, making him the only player with multiple hits in the game.

“

Suzuki hit the fourth pitch from Soriano, a changeup with a 2-1 count, and sent the ball an estimated 390 feet over the left field for his 21st home run.