Recap: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Anthony Rizzo socked a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the rubber match of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

Stymied by St. Louis pitching since the second inning, the Cubs clinched a series victory when Rizzo followed a leadoff single by Starlin Castro with an opposite-field blast to left off Trevor Rosenthal (0-1).

"It's nice this early in his career to get his first walk-off in big-time fashion, and a home run, too," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Off a guy throwing 97, 98 mph, to take that pitch opposite field and not try to do too much. It was awesome."

James Russell (5-0) worked around a two-out single by Yadier Molina in the top of the 10th to earn the win for the second consecutive day.

The Cubs improved to 12-3 in their last 15 home games.

Paul Maholm authored another solid outing, holding St. Louis to one run on four hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings. The veteran left-hander hasn't allowed more than one run in each of his last six starts.

Adam Wainwright gave up two Chicago runs on six hits over six frames.

"Adam did a nice job of controlling the damage early on and kept us in the game," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "A two-run game in this park isn't anything."

The Cardinals trailed 2-0 heading into the seventh. David Freese, back in the lineup after missing the previous two games with cramping in his right calf, stroked a one-out single and Matt Carpenter doubled before Tyler Greene's sacrifice fly put the visitors on the board.

Maholm couldn't get the final out of the inning, walking both pinch-hitter Lance Berkman and Daniel Descalso to load the bases. Manuel Corpas entered from the bullpen and preserved the lead by retiring Allen Craig on a fly ball to right.

But St. Louis tied the game in the eighth when Carlos Beltran homered to left off Shawn Camp.

Castro drove in the Cubs' first run with a groundout in the first. Castro knocked in David DeJesus, who had led off with a triple.

Chicago added another run in the second. Darwin Barney hit a leadoff double and Luis Valbuena walked before Maholm slapped a chopper to drawn-in first baseman Carpenter. Valbuena was erased at second, but Descalso's poor throw to first enabled Barney to scamper home.