Piscotty agrees to $33.5 million, 6-year with Cardinals

He said the biggest ache he had was his swollen right arm, from Arrieta’s pitch. Ben Zobrist was hit by a pitch from Seung-hwan Oh and Jason Heyward singled before Willson Contreras hit a drive to left for a tying homer. The right-hander gets his first chance to make his case Wednesday when he takes the mound against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium for his first major league start since the 2015 season finale.

What you need to know: The elite Cubs defense from 2016 has not gone anywhere.

The hug came moments after Almora leapt at the center-field wall in the bottom of the seventh to snare a Matt Adams blast that looked destined to tie the game. “That catch was a game-saver”.

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010 last season, they opened this one by beating the Cubs on a ninth-inning walk-off Sunday. Contreras then scampered home on Baez’s safety squeeze.

“Having Stephen Piscotty join a number of our current players who are also under contract into the foreseeable future allows us to continue to maintain the level of consistency that has been so important to our organization’s success”, stated Cardinals’ Chairman Bill Dewitt, Jr.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon called it “psychological entertainment warfare” – and called it “beautiful”. “I actually grew up watching him and Andruw Jones, both guys I really model my game after – not the fastest guys out there, but the routes are precise and ideal”.

Astros 2, Mariners 1: Brian McCann and Marwin Gonzalez homered to back a solid start by Lance McCullers.

Randal Grichuk smiled as he backed away from a mob of St. Louis Cardinals chasing him around the field. Trying to glove Wong’s soft grounder that was ruled a hit, Baez bobbled it, enabling Stephen Piscotty to score from second on a hustling play. He eventually walked off the field.

Wednesday morning, as the afternoon’s scheduled game against the Cardinals was being postponed because of rain, Almora talked in the Cubs’ clubhouse about playing the outfield. He was getting treated following the game and was unavailable for comment. He left the game to undergo concussion protocol and will be tested again on Wednesday as he waits clearance to return to the diamond.

Verlander (1-0), the AL Cy Young Award runner-up last season, gave up two runs and six hits while walking two in 6 1/3 innings.

NOTES: St. Louis RHP Trevor Rosenthal (right lat strain) threw a bullpen session Tuesday with no difficulties.

Cubs: LHP Brian Duensing was placed on the 10-day disabled list with lower back spasms.

Piscotty then chose to try and steal second by running on the pitch.