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 However, he accomplished something Tuesday night that he strived for
all his life.
Becoming the first Naval Academy graduate to win a major league
game, Harris helped the St. Louis Cardinals extend their longest
winning streak in five years to eight games with a 7-4 verdict over
the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium.
After pitching a scoreless sixth inning, including a whiff of center
fielder Dexter Fowler to end it, Harris (1-0) sat in the dugout as
pinch hitter Mark Reynolds snapped a 4-4 tie in St. Louis' half of
the sixth with an RBI double off reliever Edwin Jackson (1-1).
Tacking on another run in the sixth and a two-out tally in the
seventh, the Cardinals made it stand up to give Harris his slice of
history.
"It means a lot," the 29-year old rookie said. "It's a dream I've
always wanted to realize."
It appeared that Harris might record his first victory April 25 in
Milwaukee, but the official scorer denied him the win after 1 1/3
scoreless innings of relief, awarding it instead of Matt Belisle.
Harris, the first Naval Academy product to pitch in the majors since
Nemo Gaines appeared in four games for the 1921 Washington Senators,
couldn't be denied this decision.
"I'm so proud of the kid, what he's done and how he's served our
country," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "It's a big deal what
he's doing on the mound for us. He just needs to keep doing what
he's doing."
Called up April 20, Harris has fired 6 2/3 scoreless innings in his
first six outings, adding to an already deep Cardinals bullpen that
shouldered 32 innings in the past six games.
St. Louis starter Tyler Lyons permitted six hits and four runs
(three earned) over 4 1/3 innings with two walks and seven
strikeouts. However, five relievers authored 4 2/3 scoreless innings
as the Cardinals improved to 20-6, the best start in the majors
since the 2003 New York Yankees opened 20-5.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals equalized
with one swing of Carpenter's bat. Jumping on a cutter from Chicago
starter Kyle Hendricks, Carpenter lined it 387 feet into the seats
in right field for a game-tying, three-run homer.
"It's hard to describe how we've won games," Carpenter said. "Every
night, it's a different guy. I thought that out of spring training,
we had every piece we needed. So far, everyone has fit into their
role."
Hendricks, who gave up six hits and four runs in five innings with
two walks and a strikeout, said his lack of control doomed him. Two
batters before Carpenter's homer, he plunked pinch hitter Peter
Bourjos on the first pitch.
"I've got to change something up," Hendricks said. "Hitting and
walking guys is not my game. I'm not as consistent as I was last
year. I felt good at points, but I had too many baserunners."
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Carpenter added a sacrifice fly later in the sixth for a 6-4 lead.
Second baseman Kolten Wong's third hit, a two-out infield single in
the seventh, plated right fielder Jason Heyward with the final run.
Chicago (13-12) loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth for
first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who to that point was 3-for-3 with a
walk. Matheny left in right-hander Miguel Socolovich rather than
bring sidearming lefty Randy Choate out of the bullpen, and
Socolovich rewarded Matheny's faith by inducing a groundout to Wong.
St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal picked up his ninth save in 10
attempts, throwing a scoreless ninth.
The Cardinals scored the night's first run on an RBI single by
catcher Yadier Molina in the second, but the Cubs tied it in the
third with a sacrifice fly by right fielder Jorge Soler.
Chicago chased Lyons with three runs in the fifth. Rookie third
baseman Kris Bryant singled home the go-ahead run, and shortstop
Starlin Castro's fielder's choice bouncer netted two runs when
Bryant sped home from second, never hesitating as he rounded third.
However, a three-run lead simply wasn't enough to hold back St.
Louis and Harris' date with history.
"I'm just going about it in a normal way," he said when asked about
his reaction to his first win. "I don't want it to be any different
for me. I just want to be remembered as a good pitcher."
NOTES: Chicago placed OF Chris Denoria (left hamstring) on the
15-day disabled list and sent down RHP Gonzalez Germen to Triple-A
Iowa. Denorfia left Monday night's game in the third inning for a
pinch runner. The Cubs beefed up their bullpen by calling up LHP
James Russell and RHP Anthony Varvaro, giving them eight relievers
among 13 pitchers. ... St. Louis LHP Jaime Garcia (shoulder) threw
70 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday and is scheduled to start a
rehab assignment Sunday. Garcia landed on the DL near the end of
spring training as he was on the verge of opening the season as the
No. 5 starter.
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