Joe Mather's walk-off hit gives the Cubs the win against the Cardinals; Michael Bowden excited to join Cubs

What a game the Cubs had tonight!  Joe Mather delivered with a 2-run walk-off single in the ninth inning to win the game, 3-2 against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Matt Garza was the starting pitcher and allowed four hits and two earned runs and issued three walks and struck out five batters through seven innings pitched.  Here's a link to a video of Joe Mather's game-winning hit.

Joe Mather, Tony Campana and Alfonso Soriano celebrate their walk-off win against the Cardinals (photo from cubs.com)

Second baseman Darwin Barney scored the first run for the Cubs tonight (photo from cubs.com)

Since Tony Campana was called up from Triple-A Iowa over the weekend, he's had three hits in five at-bats, which is the same amount of hits Marlon Byrd had in 43 at-bats before he was traded to the Boston Red Sox over the weekend.  Right now, Theo Epstein and Co. are looking pretty wise!

Cubs manager Dale Sveum used right-handed hitters in the lineup tonight against left-handed Cardinals' pitcher Jaime Garcia, and sat third baseman Ian Stewart and first baseman Bryan LaHair out for Mather and Jeff Baker.

In other Cubs news, the team officially added Michael Bowden to the 25-man roster today and in turn, designated pitcher Rodrigo Lopez for assignment.  The Cubs hope that Lopez will clear waivers and accept a job at Triple-A Iowa to be in the starting rotation.  “Hopefully that happens, and hopefully he elects to go down there,” Cubs' manager Dale Sveum said.

Bowden is 25 years old and grew up in the Chicago area as a Cubs fan.  He said, "This is a dream come true.  I'm very blessed and fortunate and extremely excited."  Bowden currently resides in Oswego and attended high school in Aurora. Bowden was drafted in 2005 by the Boston Red Sox when Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein was the General Manager for the Red Sox and Jed Hoyer was Epstein's Assistant GM.   “They know me well and I know them well,” Bowden said.  “So it’s a nice level of comfort.”  Welcome home and welcome to the Cubs, Michael Bowden!

Tomorrow the Cubs will play game 2 against the Cardinals at 7:05pm, where Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs.