The Cubs, who were in the hunt for a wild card spot, need a miracle, as they lost 2 out of 3 to the Cardinals.

Game 1    Cubs 6   Cardinals 4
Dennis Lamp took the ball for Chicago in game 1, while Vinegar Bend Mizell started for St. Louis. Lamp started the 1st by giving up 3 singles in the inning, allowing a run for a quick Cardinal lead. Chicago would follow with a barrage. Ivan DeJesus would lead off with a ground out. Ted Sizemore would stroke one up the middle. Buckner would foul one back to the catcher. With 2 down, Dave Kingman would hammer one into the seats in left.Bobby Murcer would reach on an error. Back to back doubles by Onteveros and Martin and a single by Barry Foote would put 5 runs on the board for Chicago. 2 Cardinal runs in the 5th would cut the lead to 5-3. Both teams would trade runs in the 8th with Chicago's run coming on Dave Kingman's second homer of the game. Bruce Sutter who came in the 9th would give up a walk to Don Blasingame. Balsingame would then be gunned down by Foote trying to steal 2nd. Sutter would retire the next two batters and the Cubs had game 1.

Game 2   Cubs 3  Cardinal  6
Chicago would start off game 2 in fine fashion as they would score 2 runs in the 1st and add one in the 2nd. Dave Kingman would hit his 3rd HR in the first. With Mike Krukow pitching a 2 hit shutout through the 5th, things were looking good. Krukow had command, but he fell apart in the 6th. The 6th would feature a load bases clearing double by pinch hitter Rocky Nelson and the Cards would score 4 in the inning to take the lead. Two more Cardinal runs in the 7th would do the Cubs in, as St. Louis pitching would shut the Cubs down the rest of the way.

Game 3 Cubs 4  Cardinals 6   12 innings
Needing game 3, the Cubs started their ace, as if Chicago had an ace, but he's as close to an ace as Chicago has, Rick Reuschel Rick got through the 1st and then surrendered 3 runs in the 2nd. Only giving up one hit in the 2nd while walking 3 and throwing a wild pitch, it just seemed like Chicago and Reuschel were doomed. The Cubs would surprise and score 3 of their own on the bottom half of the 3rd, capped by a safety squeeze by Reuschel scoring Dillard. It would stay tied until the 7th when a Ivan DeJesus single would again score a Steve Dillard. In the 8th the Cubs would put the game and season in Bruce Sutter’s hand. Sutter would get the Cubs through 8th unscathed. IN the 9th, Sutter got Wally Moon to ground one to Dillard at 2nd. One out and the Cubs needed 2 more, but Rip Repulski would slap a Sutter splitter to right. Grady Hatton, pinch hitting would rip one down the left field that rattled around while Hatton slid into 3rd with a triple scoring Repulski, tying the game. With Sutter out of steam after the 10th the Cubs would be forced to bring in "Big Dick" Tidrow and Tidrow would promptly give up a walk and 2 hits as St. Louis scored 2 run sin the top of the 12th. IN the bottom of the 12th the Cubs would be down to their final out when Bill Buckner stroked one to right center for a hit. Dave Kingman would come up as the tying run. With the season on the line, Kingamn would slap one to Ken Boyer at 3rd who tossed to 2nd for the force and the game was over.
A great series, but Chicago needs some help if they're to make the playoffs, but in typical Cubs fashion, they'll probably have to wait till next year.

--submitted by Jim Walden--