Jordan Montgomery pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning to remain unbeaten with St. Louis, Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman homered, and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 8-0 Friday night.
Montgomery improved to 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA since being acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade on Aug. 2. He gave up two hits to lead off the seventh.
Montgomery (8-3) scattered seven hits, striking out four and walking two.
The Cardinals got late-inning homers from Nootbaar and Edman to break open what had been a close 3-0 game. Nootbaar’s 11th home run and Edman’s 12th came off Cubs reliever Sean Newcomb.
Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado was named the National League’s Player of the Month for August. It’s his second honori this year as he previously won in April. For the month, Arenado hit .365 with nine homers and 29 RBI.
RHP Jack Flaherty (right shoulder strain) is scheduled to start Monday against the Washington Nationals. Flaherty has been on the injured list since June 27.
LHP Steven Matz (left MCL tear) threw a bullpen session today and the Cardinals plan to have him throw a live batting practice next week.
LHP Drew Smyly (5-7, 3.24 ERA) starts for Chicago and RHP Adam Wainwright (9-9, 3.09 ERA) throws for St. Louis in the second game of their three-games series Saturday, 5:20 with the pregame and the first pitch at 6:15 on KIRX.