Cards Defeat Cubs, in Game of Errors, Wild Pitches, 11-10

In a game where there were 21 runs, 26 hits, six errors and three wild pitches, the outcome was probably determined about 20 feet from first base in foul territory.

It was there that Andy Van Slyke, who earlier hit a three-run homer, made a sliding catch on Keith Moreland’s foul ball in the ninth inning Friday to preserve the St. Louis Cardinals’ 11-10 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

It was also there the Cardinals took advantage of a wild pickoff throw in the top of the inning to score the winning run.

Joaquin Andujar, 12-1, became the major leagues’ first 12-game winner, but had to leave with one out in the sixth when his shoulder tightened.

“It’s kind of funny how things turned out that we win the game on a wild pickoff throw,” said Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog, whose team tagged the Cubs with their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Jack Clark drew a two-out walk in he ninth off George Frazier and Van Slyke walked. Frazier, trying to pick off Van Slyke, threw wildly, allowing Clark to score.

“It was an ill-timed play,” Chicago manager Jim Frey said. “It’s a great play if it works. But we didn’t play very well all day. We didn’t catch the ball too well.”

Chicago committed five errors and blew a 3-0 lead when the Cards scored three times in both the fifth and sixth innings and four times in the seventh. But the Cubs came back with three in the seventh, one in the eighth and put the tying run on second in the ninth. Davey Lopes’ two-run homer had brought the Cubs to within 11-10, but Bob Forsch, who got the save, induced Moreland to foul out.

“I had to slide between two relief pitchers to get it,” said Van Slyke, whose error in the second allowed the Cubs’ first run. “It’s the most I’ve ever been on a roller coaster in a game, at least since last year.”

Last year, the Cubs beat St. Louis, 12-11, in a similar game.

Andujar will not miss a start even though he departed early. Terry Pendleton, injured in the fifth going after a double by Leon Durham, may be placed on the disabled list.

His replacement, Tom Lawless, delivered a two-run double in the sixth that put the Cards ahead to stay.

“You’ve got to take advantage of the situations,” Lawless said. “I knew in this ballpark, my hit wouldn’t be the last runs that would be scored.”

Jody Davis drove in five runs in the losing effort. He had a two-run double in the third, drove in a run with an infield out in the fifth and drove in two more with a bases-loaded double in the seventh.

Leading 6-4, Van Slyke belted the first pitch from reliever Warren Brusstar into the right-field bleachers for his sixth homer. Vince Coleman led off the seventh with a single, stole his 42nd base and went to third when shortstop Chris Speier was charged with interference. One out later, Tommy Herr was intentionally walked. Clark followed with a run-batted in single and Van Slyke homered.

Clark led off the sixth with a walk and Van Slyke blooped a single to center off Dick Ruthven, 3-5. The runners advanced to second and third when center fielder Davey Lopes was charged with an error on the relay throw. Lawless followed with a double, scoring both runners.

Lawless went to third on Ozzie Smith’s infield out and scored on Tom Nieto’s squeeze bunt.

Chicago took a 4-3 lead in the fifth. Durham led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Davis’ infield out.

The Cards tied it with three in the fifth. Pendleton led off with a single and Smith reached on Durham’s error. One out later, Andujar doubled to left-center, scoring both runners. An out later, Willie McGee tripled to right, scoring Andujar.