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.

In the midst of a disappointing season that saw his role diminish, Carpenter emphatically pointed to no one in particular in the visitors dugout upon contact.

"I mean, it was a gut punch in that inning before," Carpenter said of a squandered 4-1 lead. "We had that game locked, then it squeaked away from us. They tied it up. Just the emotional turn to be able to get the lead again then look in there and the excitement just fired up everybody."

Carpenter homered to deep center field off Kimbrel (0-3), who 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.

"I'm really disappointed in myself to go out there and give up a home run like that," Kimbrel said. "Season's not over. We still have a lot of games left."

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.

The significance of an emotion-charged road victory in the series opener with emerging ace Jack Flaherty on the mound wasn't lost on Manager Mike Shildt and his team.

"Yeah, a win is a win is a win, but that's an important win for sure," Shildt said. "I mean, you start the series off and knock that first one down and look forward to tomorrow."

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. But Flaherty was spectacular otherwise, pitching three-hit ball while giving up only the one run and striking out eight. He left after 118 pitches with a 6-2 record with a 0.93 ERA in 10 starts since Aug. 1.

The Cubs finally broke through against closer Carlos Martinez in the ninth, which Nicholas Castellanos led off with a walk then advanced to second on Kris Bryant's single. After Kyle Schwarber was called out on strikes, Ben Zobrist hit an RBI double just inside the right-field line. Willson Contreras followed with a slow roller on which Martinez threw late to the plate while Bryant scored from third.

Jason Heyward tied it with a groundout against Miller that scored pinch runner Javier Baez from third.

"I was really proud of the guys, the way they came back at the end and had a chance to win," manager Joe Maddon said.

Tommy Edman lead off the fifth with a triple against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks for the first of his two hits. Harrison Bader followed with an RBI single to snap a 1-1 tie.

The Cardinals took a 4-1 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Schwarber bobbled Yadier Molina's single in left field off Hendricks for a run-scoring error. Bader hit an RBI double off reliever Brad Wieck one out later.

RIZZO'S RETURN

Rizzo left a game against Pittsburgh on Sunday because of a sprained right ankle and was expected to be in a walking boot for up to a week. Shortly after he warmed up in the outfield while team medical personnel looked on, he was inserted into the leadoff spot and tabbed to play first base about 20 minutes before first pitch.

Rizzo hit the first pitch by Flaherty in the third inning into the left-field bleachers to tie the score at 1, and fans at Wrigley Field celebrated wildly as he slowly circled the bases.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: INF Kolten Wong left the game in the fifth inning because of a left hamstring injury. He is day to day.

Cubs: INF Addison Russell was activated after a 10-game absence while in concussion protocol. ... Baez (fractured left thumb) was cleared for baseball activities and available to pinch run with the aid of a protective mitt. ... RHP Brandon Kintzler (strained left oblique) was expected to take part in a full bullpen session in the next day or two after he reported no setbacks in a 15-pitch session Wednesday.

UP NEXT

St. Louis RHP Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.76) and Chicago RHP Alec Mills (1-0, 3.42) are the scheduled starters Friday. LHP Jose Quintana was set to start for Chicago, but his assignment was pushed back to Saturday, when LHP Cole Hamels (fatigued left shoulder) had been scheduled to pitch. Hamels was scratched but hopes to rejoin the rotation next week.

CHICAGO -- How many times have this season's Chicago Cubs gotten a boost only to quickly fall backward? And if the boost the Cubs received Thursday evening -- a surprise return to the lineup for injured first baseman Anthony Rizzo -- wasn't enough to lift them for even one night, is there really anything left to push them over the finish line?

Rizzo's injured right ankle healed quickly enough for him to start in Game 1 of the biggest series of the season to date but, even after hitting a home run, his presence did little to affect the outcome -- no matter what the Cubs say -- as St. Louis Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty dominated on the road for the NL Central leaders.

"That was huge," Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks said of Rizzo's return. "The work he's been putting in the last few days to get him back on the field has been incredible. That's one of our leaders. To have him back out there, it lifted everyone up."

But how much did it really lift everyone? Rizzo was the only player to produce a run while he was in the game, going deep to tie the contest in the bottom of the third inning. By the time the Cubs got down 4-1, Rizzo came out of the game to rest his ankle before a late Cubs comeback fell short when closer Craig Kimbrel -- fresh off an injury himself -- gave up a 10th-inning home run to Matt Carpenter for a 5-4 St. Louis win.

"Pretty disappointed in myself to go out there and give up a home run like that," Kimbrel said. "Tonight was a big game for us. We really needed it."

The Cubs have been saying the same things for weeks. But now the calendar is closing in on them as the loss dropped them out of the postseason -- at least for the moment. Treading water -- or taking it on -- has been the theme for this team for months. Rizzo's inspirational return did little, just as the upstart story of Double-A infielder Nico Hoerner hasn't been a spark. The trade for Nicholas Castellanos was the burst the Cubs needed back in August, or so we thought. But the run didn't come then either. Even the Kimbrel signing in June hasn't paid off as he has been hurt and struggled, and now took the loss in a crushing September loss.

At least Rizzo is showing a sense of urgency that can't be questioned. Why did he play, instead of waiting a couple more days, after injuring his ankle Sunday?

"We don't have a couple more days," he said. "We have to win now. I love this team. This is what I want to do. I want to play.

"We have to come in and win. This is the bottom line. Guys are pumped."

They may be pumped, but they aren't playing good baseball. Another poor baserunning play, another fielding error and another bad night of chasing pitches out of the zone added up to another loss. Despite all of that, the Cubs mounted an admirable, game-tying three-run rally in the ninth inning off Carlos Martinez.

Here again was a chance to break through and use Rizzo's night to inspire them to greatness, even if he was out of the game. But the winning run was stranded at second not long before Carpenter took a fastball from Kimbrel out to center field. Game over.

"Overall, love the fight," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Sure, great. Fight is nice. Wins are better.

The Cubs have now dropped three in a row at home where they've dominated all year. The season is slowly slipping away, though there is still time to right the ship. It's a proud group that likely won't go quietly -- but they also don't seem to be too inspired by anything around them, which includes a rabid fan base. What more can Rizzo do for his team than play on a bum ankle and hit a home run?

"We're fighting at Wrigley field in late September to go to the playoffs, and that's where all the magic happens," Rizzo said, trying to stay positive.

On Thursday, the only magic that happened -- besides a ninth-inning tease -- was in Rizzo's ankle.

DOVER, Del. – Drydene Performance Products has announced a multi-year partnership with Dover Int’l Speedway to serve as entitlement sponsor for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 on Oct. 6.

The company also announced a primary sponsorship agreement with Go Fas Racing and driver Corey LaJoie in a press conference Thursday morning in front of the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza at Dover Int’l Speedway.

In addition to those announcements, a sweepstakes was unveiled where one lucky fan will win a 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 if LaJoie wins any stages of the Drydene 400.

“Drydene Performance Products is thrilled to announce the inaugural Drydene 400 and bringing Corey LaJoie onto Team Drydene,” said Dave Klinger, President of Drydene Performance Products. “A partnership with the iconic track at Dover is a natural fit: like Drydene, Dover Int’l Speedway is part of American racing heritage.”

Klinger opened the press conference unveiling the Drydene 400 brandmark with Dover Int’l Speedway president and CEO Mike Tatoian. The event is the track’s second NASCAR Cup Series race of the year and Drydene’s first event entitlement sponsorship of a NASCAR event with Dover Int’l Speedway.

“We are excited to partner with another historic and performance-driven brand, Drydene Performance Products, for the Drydene 400,” said Tatoian. “We are looking forward to having Drydene as part of our Monster Mile family as we continue our track’s 50th anniversary celebration.”

Drydene also announced a partnership with Go Fas Racing driver Corey LaJoie for the 2019 and 2020 Drydene 400. The Drydene No. 32 Ford Mustang of Go Fas Racing that LaJoie will race at the Drydene 400 was also unveiled during the press conference.

“For the Drydene 400, Corey is joining an outstanding group of drivers, both past and present, that have competed as part of the Team Drydene brand: from dirt to asphalt, local to nationwide, our drivers embody the hard work, dedication, and tenacity that is part of who we are,” stated Klinger.

“I’m excited to partner with Drydene for the Drydene 400 at Dover,” said Corey LaJoie. “Their support of racing as a whole makes this a great match, and we’re excited to take it to the next level.”

MONTEREY, Calif. – It’s the first time in 15 years since the NTT IndyCar Series has competed at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, which means everyone starts from scratch.

That worked to rookie driver Colton Herta’s benefit as the 19-year-old driver ran the fastest lap in Thursday’s six hours of testing at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile natural terrain road course.

Herta’s No. 88 Harding Steinbrenner Honda turned 63 laps with a fast time of 1:10.0720 for a speed of 114.979 mph.

“I think there are only a handful of drivers like Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Tony Kanaan that have ever raced here in an Indy car,” Herta told SPEED SPORT. “It’s like COTA, it helps that we are starting from Ground Zero. The circuit has changed, and the cars have changed and that helps a lot and helps from setup as well.

“It’s a place where nobody knows what to expect.”

Team Penske driver Will Power was second quick at 1:10.5383 (114.219 mph) in his No. 12 Chevrolet. Another rookie driver, Felix Rosenqvist, was third at 1:10.5896 (114.136 mph) in the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Josef Newgarden, the NTT IndyCar Series points leader, was fourth at 1:10.6406 (114.054 mph) in the No. 2 Chevrolet followed by Graham Rahal’s Honda at 1:10.7709 (113.843 mph).

There were 1,629 laps turned in the test session. The morning session saw Alexander Rossi turn five laps in Ryan Hunter-Reay’s No. 28 Honda with Hunter-Reay turning seven laps in the No. 27 Honda to compare setups at Andretti Autosport. That has become a common tactic for this team at test sessions.

Because Thursday was a test session, the speeds count for real beginning Friday with practice for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. There are four drivers still mathematically alive in the battle for the NTT IndyCar Series championship.

Newgarden leads Rossi by 41, Simon Pagenaud by 42 and Scott Dixon by 85. This is one of two races on the schedule that pays double points, so a victory is worth 100 points instead of the typical 50.

Australian Lukas Michel rallied to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur final, 2 and 1, to punch his ticket to next year's Masters and U.S. Open.

The 25-year-old from Melbourne trailed Joe Deraney for much of the 36-hole final at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo., and Deraney held a 1-up advantage with just nine holes to play. But from there Michel turned the table, closing with birdies on four of his final eight holes. That included a birdie on No. 15, which gave him his first lead in 29 holes, and another on No. 16 to push his opponent to the brink.

Deraney, a 36-year-old stay-at-home dad from Tupelo, Miss., was 3-up after 23 holes but won only one hole the rest of the way.

Michel becomes the first international champion in the 39-year-old history of the U.S. Mid-Amateur, and he joins U.S. Women's Amateur champ Gabi Ruffels as Australians to win USGA events this summer. Michel's victory means he'll play in two majors next year, with a likely invite to his first Masters along with a spot in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, and will be exempt into the Mid-Amateur for the next 10 years.

The U.S. Mid-Amateur is open to all amateurs ages 25 and older who have a USGA handicap index of 3.4 or lower. Past champions include Jay Sigel, David Eger, Trip Kuehne, Nathan Smith (four times) and Stewart Hagestad.

Tom Hoge is not wasting any time in getting to work during the PGA Tour's new wraparound season.

Hoge finished 159th last season in the FedExCup race, necessitating a return to Korn Ferry Tour Finals to regain his playing privileges. But with his Tour card now reinstated, he finished second last week at The Greenbrier in the season's opening event.

The 30-year-old isn't slowing down this week at the Sanderson Farms Championship, where he shot an 8-under 64 to take an early one-shot lead before opening-round play was suspended because of inclement weather.

"There was so much pressure there for a few weeks to play well and get back out here on the PGA Tour, so many great events to play in," Hoge told reporters. "Once you got that done, it frees you up a little bit. At the same time, you know you played well, so just kind of keep it rolling."

Hoge leads by one shot over Robert Streb, Cameron Percy and Seamus Power, all of whom completed their rounds before weather halted play at 3:46 p.m. ET. Among those returning to the course at 8 a.m. Friday to complete their rounds are J.T. Poston (5 under through eight holes), Bill Haas (4 under through eight), and Sungjae Im (4 under through nine).

Last week's winner, Joaquin Niemann, opened with a 4-under 68 and trails by four, while defending champ Cameron Champ is 1 under through eight holes. Teen sensation Akshay Bhatia, who is making his pro debut this week at age 17, is even after completing just four holes.

With the event typically played opposite other high-profile Tour stops including the WGC-HSBC Champions, this week the Sanderson Farms winner will earn a Masters invite for the first time in the FedExCup era.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tweeted Thursday night that "ridiculous penalties" in the first half of the Tennessee Titans-Jacksonville Jaguars game led him to turn it off.

I'm turning off this game I can't watch these ridiculous penalties anymore #TENvsJAC

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 20, 2019

Too many penalties. Just let us play!!!! #TENvsJAC

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 20, 2019

There were 15 penalties in the first half called by referee Shawn Hochuli's crew, eight of which were for holding. There were 20 penalties in total for the game, including declined penalties. There were no flags thrown in the third quarter.

The Titans, who lost 20-7 to the Jaguars, were flagged 12 times, with 9 penalties being accepted. The 12 total penalties were their most since Week 5 of the 2017 season.

The NFL has had an increased emphasis on offensive holding this season. Entering Thursday night, the highest total of holding penalties in a game was 11, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

In Weeks 1-2, there were 178 flags for offensive holding, a 66% increase from the same time period last season. That spike powered a 16.2% increase in total penalties compared to Weeks 1-2 of last season, as well as a slight drop in scoring from 21.97 offensive points per game in 2018 to 20.9 in 2019.

Brady seldom makes waves on league issues and is often complimentary of officiating. His tweets were noted on the television broadcast, with analyst Troy Aikman saying: "Tom Brady is one of the least controversial people we have in our game. He is league loyalty. When he makes a statement like that, that should get somebody's attention."

Brady wasn't the only NFL player noting the officiating on social media, with New York Jets safety Jamal Adams among those referencing Brady's tweet.

Mood. https://t.co/ULDm8tUB8V

— Jamal Adams (@TheAdamsEra) September 20, 2019

Coincidentally, the Patriots and Jets play each other on Sunday.

Hochuli's crew threw more flags (306), including 79 for offensive holding, than any other crew in the 2018 season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Not only is Gardner Minshew II capably filling in for the injured Nick Foles, the rookie sixth-round pick is beginning to show that he might be able to carry the Jacksonville Jaguars' offense.

The Jaguars' run game was essentially nonexistent Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, so it was all on Minshew, and he delivered with two touchdown passes and two other scoring drives to lead the Jaguars to a 20-7 victory at TIAA Bank Field.

Minshew completed 20 of 30 passes for 204 yards and wasn't intercepted. His only interception this season came when one of his passes bounced off Leonard Fournette's face mask in the season opener against Kansas City.

It was his first victory as a starting quarterback and the Jaguars' first victory of the season. And it came on a short week and with a massive distraction when cornerback Jalen Ramsey asked the team to trade him.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak to the Titans, who embarrassed the Jaguars on national television last season.

Minshew threw both of his TD passes in the first quarter, making him just the second rookie to throw two TD passes in the first 10 minutes of a game in the past 10 seasons. The only other to do so was Tennessee's Marcus Mariota, who did it in his NFL debut in 2015.

Minshew has five touchdown passes to his one interception in three games. He's the second quarterback in franchise history to throw a TD pass in each of his first three games (Byron Leftwich did it in 2003).

Don Mattingly and the rebuilding Miami Marlins have agreed to a contract extension, a source told ESPN, confirming an El Extrabase report.

Mattingly will receive a two-year deal from the team, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan, confirming an MLB Network report. An official announcement is expected Friday, when Miami opens a three-game series against the visiting Nationals before finishing the season on a seven-game road trip.

Mattingly initially signed a four-year contract with the Marlins prior to the 2016 season. He is a career 272-364 with the team.

The 58-year-old Mattingly will be the first to manage the Marlins for more than four seasons.

Under new part-owner/CEO Derek Jeter, the Marlins have been in rebuilding mode, trading away key pieces in recent seasons such as Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, J.T. Realmuto and Marcell Ozuna. They are an NL-worst 53-99 this season.