The Chicago Cubs scored four runs in the 2nd inning & survived a 9th inning rally to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Wednesday evening from Busch Stadium.

The Cubs tried to score early in the top of the 1st inning after Alfonso Soriano hit a lead-off single against Cardinals starter Braden Looper.

3 batters later, Aramis Ramirez singled to put runners at 1st & 3rd with 2 outs for Geovany Soto.

Soto grounded out to Cesar Izturis at shortstop to end the scoring threat.

The Cardinals then took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st inning after Cesar Izturis hit a lead-off single against Cubs starter Ted Lilly.

Izturis then took 2nd base on a balk from Lilly during Felipe Lopez’s at-bat, who hit an outfield flyout & advanced Izturis to 3rd base with just 1 out.

Albert Pujols then hit an RBI groundout to score Izturis from 3rd base & give St. Louis a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs were then able to bat around during a huge four-run 2nd inning, which started with Kosuke Fukudome’s lead-off single against Looper.

Mark DeRosa then singled to put runners at 1st & 3rd with nobody out for Felix Pie.

Pie then hit an RBI single to score Fukudome from 3rd base & tied the game 1-1.

Ted Lilly then reached on a fielder’s choice, which loaded the bases with nobody out for Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano then reached on a fielder’s choice & drove in 2 runs thanks to Felipe Lopez’s error at 2nd base, which scored both DeRosa & Pie to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

3 batters later, Aramis Ramirez hit an RBI single to score Soriano from 3rd base & give Chicago a 4-1 lead.

Geovany Soto then walked, which loaded the bases with 2 outs for Kosuke Fukudome.

St. Louis then threatened in the bottom of the 3rd inning after Cesar Izturis hit a 2-out single off Lilly.

Felipe Lopez then singled after Aramis Ramirez failed to make a bare-handed grab at 3rd base to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Albert Pujols.

Pujols then singled to Alfonso Soriano in left field, who threw a strike to home plate and nailed Izturis to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs then put together yet another scoring rally in the top of the 6th inning after Felix Pie drew a lead-off walk from Cardinals reliever Jason Motte.

Ted Lilly then laid down a sac bunt, which advanced Pie to 2nd base with just 1 out.

Alfonso Soriano then walked which put runners at 1st & 2nd with 1 out.

Ryan Theriot & Derrek Lee both struck out to end the scoring threat.

Chicago then had a chance to score an insurance run in the top of the 8th inning after Felix Pie drew a 1-out walk from St. Louis reliever Ron Villone.

Ted Lilly then laid down a sac bunt, which advanced Pie to 2nd base with 2 outs for Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano then struck out to end the scoring threat.

The Cardinals then put together a final rally in the bottom of the 9th inning after Albert Pujols hit a 1-out double against Cubs closer Kerry Wood.

Ryan Ludwick then followed with a 2-run homer (33rd of season), which made it a 4-3 Cub lead.

Wood then struck out Aaron Miles & got Josh Phelps to fly out to Felix Pie in centerfield to end the game.

Ted Lilly (14-9) gets the win for the Cubs after pitching 8 strong innings & allowed just 1 run on 5 hits. Lilly’s next win will give him 15 victories for the 3rd consecutive season.

Braden Looper (12-12) takes the loss for the Cardinals after allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings of work.

Despite allowing a 9th inning homer to Ryan Ludwick, Kerry Wood retired the final 2 batters to earn his 29th save of the season & first since August 28th against Philadelphia.

The Cubs will now look to win this series in their final 2008 regular-season game at Busch Stadium on Thursday evening & welcome back a power pitcher in their rotation.

Righthander Rich Harden (4-1, 1.50 in 9 starts with Cubs) will make his 1st start since August 29th & will be opposed by Cardinals righthander Todd Wellemeyer (12-6, 3.74).

The Cubs have won each of Harden’s last 6 starts, while Rich has only allowed 2 runs in 19 innings of work in his 3 road starts since coming over from the Oakland A’s on July 8th.

Harden’s only previous career start against St. Louis was during an interleague start on June 16th, 2004 when he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings & took the loss during the Cardinals’ 6-2 win.

Wellemeyer is 8-5 in 15 home starts this season with a 4.57 ERA & is 2-1 in 3 starts against the Cubs with a 4.32 ERA.

Signing off for now,