Cubs Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Bullpen Allows 3 Runs As St. Louis Walks Off, 7-6

The Chicago Cubs (15-21) got another solid start from fifth-starter LHP Paul Maholm, but the St. Louis Cardinals (21-15) slowly nicked away at the Chicago bullpen, coming away with a walk-off 7-6 win.

Maholm left the game after 6.0 innings and allowed 4 ER while striking 5, walking 3 and surrendering 1 HR. He kept the Cardinals hitters off balance, coaxing 8 ground outs, and handed the Cubs bullpen a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th inning.

Unfortunately, RP Kerry Wood (BS, 2), RP James Russell and RP Rafael Dolis (L, 2-3) each allowed a run, culminating in a walk-off ground ball single off the bat of C Yadier Molina in the bottom of the 9th.

The Cubs offense showed signs of life, though, scoring 6 runs for the second-straight game. Both 1B Bryan LaHair (10) and LF Alfonso Soriano (1) homered, but they ultimately could not out-score the league's top offense.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Marlon Byrd Trade: Cubs Receive Reliever Hunter Cervanka From Red Sox

The Chicago Cubs completed the final stage of the CF Marlon Byrd trade on Tuesday afternoon, confirming that the Boston Red Sox had sent relief prospect LHP Hunter Cervenka to the Cubs:

#Cubs acquire LHP Hunter Cervenka from #RedSox system to complete Marlon Byrd-Michael Bowden trade.

— Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney) May 15, 2012

The lefty Cervenka has pitched primarily in relief over the past two seasons. In 2012, he sports an unimpressive 8.62 ERA, but he is striking out 1 out of every 3 batters, while walking only 16% -- good for a solid 3.46 FIP.

The acquisition of Cervenka completes the April 21 trade that sent CF Marlon Byrd to Boston in exchange for RP Michael Bowden and a player to be named later.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Roster 2012: Chicago Signs Reliever Mike MacDougal To Minor League Deal

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Chicago Cubs have closed a deal for RP Mike MacDougal:

Cubs sign ex-sox reliever MacDougal to minor league deal.

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) May 15, 2012

The veteran MacDougal pitched most recently for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but was ineffective through 5 and 2/3 innings with the club, earning a release earlier in the season.

MacDougal, 35, has pitched in the major leagues since 2001 and owns a solid 4.00 career ERA through 394 innings pitched. In 2011, he threw 57 innings with a 2.05 ERA and 3.96 FIP.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cardinals Vs. Cubs: Carlos Beltran Not In Starting Lineup On Tuesday

The Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Monday night at Busch Staduim, and on Tuesday starter Paul Maholm won't have to deal with slugger Carlos Beltran in the starting lineup. Beltran pinch hit in the ninth inning on Monday, and he is hitting .298/.406/.653 on the season with an NL-leading 13 home runs, but the team has been careful with him lately due to knee soreness.

Cardinals.com's Jenifer Langosch spoke with manager Mike Matheny, who said Beltran's knee is "barking," but the ailment is not considered serious. In any case, the Cubs are likely more than happy to avoid the reigning National League Player of the Week in the starting lineup for the second-straight game.

Here are the lineups, starters and TV time for Tuesday's game:

Cubs Lineup

1. David DeJesus RF
2. Tony Campana CF
3. Starlin Castro SS
4. Bryan LaHair 1B
5. Alfonso Soriano LF
6. Ian Stewart 3B
7. Welington Castillo C
8. Darwin Barney 2B
9. Paul Maholm P

Cardinals Lineup

1. Rafael Furcal SS
2. Skip Schumaker CF
3. Matt Holliday LF
4. Allen Craig RF
5. Lance Berkman 1B
6. Yadier Molina C
7. Matt Carpenter 3B
8. Tyler Greene 2B
9. Kyle Lohse P

Game Date & Time: Tuesday, May 15, 12:45 p.m.

Location: Busch Stadium

TV: CSN-Chicago

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: North Siders Look For Sweep In 2-Game Series

The Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Monday night. On Tuesday, Chicago will turn to veteran starter Paul Maholm as they try to hand the N.L. Central-leading Cardinals their fifth straight loss while sweeping the two-game set.

Maholm didn't fare well in his first start against the Cards this season. On April 15, Maholm was tagged for six runs over four innings during a 10-3 St. Louis victory.

Kyle Lohse gets the start for St. Louis. The 33-year old Lohse is 5-1 and enters with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.

Chicago returns home on Wednesday for a two-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies before starting a weekend set at Wrigley against the Chicago White Sox.

Game Date & Time: Tuesday, May 15, 11:45 p.m.

Location: Busch Stadium

TV: CSN

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Final Score: North Siders Earn A 6-4 Victory

The Chicago Cubs scored one in the eighth and one in the ninth secure a 6-4 win over the rival St. Louis Cardinals on Monday at Busch Stadium. Chicago improves to 15-20 on the season. The loss is the fourth straight for the Cardinals, who fall to 20-15 in defeat.

First baseman Byran LaHair continues to have a magical season for the Cubs. LaHair went 3-for-4 and hit his ninth home run of the season in the fifth inning off Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook. David DeJesus, Starlin Castro, Ian Stewart and Geovani Soto each had two hits for the North Siders.

Starter Ryan Dempster is still seeking his first win of the season after what what might have been his worst outing of the year. Dempster allowed four runs and nine hits while striking out five after six innings on Monday.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Score Update: Chicago Takes 4-0 Lead In The 5th

Starlin Castro broke a scoreless tie with a single in the fifth inning that scored Tony Campana from second base. Bryan LaHair followed up that single with a two-run home run and Geovany Soto would later single home a run to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead on the St. Louis Cardinals.

Related: First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Monday 5/14, 6:05 CT

Chicago starter Ryan Dempster has been solid to this point, allowing four hits to go with three strikeouts and no walks in four innings of work. His season ERA is down to 0.92.

The Cubs have 10 hits on the day, with multi-hit efforts from Castro, LaHair, Geovany Soto and Ian Stewart.

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Lineups: 1B Lance Berkman Makes Second Start Since Return From DL

The Chicago Cubs (14-20) will take on their division rival, the St. Louis Cardinals (20-14), on Monday evening, with the Cubs hoping to work their way out of the NL Central basement against the division's top team.

The Cubs will send out their typical lineup against the Cards, but St. Louis will feature a healthy 1B Lance Berkman for only their second game in almost a month. Berkman -- hitting .321/.457/.464 while still looking for his first homer -- will be back in the lineup, while RF Carlos Beltran gets a day of rest.

Here's a look at Monday's full lineups:

#Cubs lineup @Cardinals 5/14: DeJesus RF, Campana CF, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Stewart 3B, Soto C, Barney 2B, Dempster P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 14, 2012

#stlcards lineup 5/14 lockerz.com/s/209010445

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) May 14, 2012

For more news and updates from around the MLB, drop by Baseball Nation with Rob Neyer, or dig deeper into the stats at Beyond the Box Score. Also, check out the team blogs Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: Dempster Looks For First Win

The Chicago Cubs are hoping to get their second straight victory when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.