(CHICAGO) – The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs wasted no time trading blows in the first game of their crucial four-game series. Then, the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter delivered a haymaker that put the rival Cubs on the ropes. Carpenter homered in the 10th inning against Craig Kimbrel in the All-Star closer's return from the injured list, and St. Louis regrouped after blowing a late lead to beat the Cubs 5-4 Thursday night. The teams will meet six more times in the final 10 days of the regular season. Kimbrel (0-3) was activated before the game after dealing with right elbow inflammation. Chicago dropped a game behind Milwaukee for the second NL wild-card spot and four games behind St. Louis for first place in the NL Central. Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect 10th for his first save in two chances. Andrew Miller (5-5) recorded the final two outs in the ninth for the victory. Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo provided a jolt in his unexpected return from a sprained right ankle, homering in the third inning to tie the score at 1.