Alec Burleson hit a three-run homer and scored twice as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting Chicago Cubs 11-3 Saturday afternoon in the first half of a split doubleheader.
Nolan Arenado scored three times and Masyn Winn added two runs and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who snapped their three-game losing streak.
Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (5-4) allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.
St. Louis center fielder Michael Siani exited the game in the fourth inning with a left elbow contusion, which he suffered when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning.
Seiya Suzuki and Patrick Wisdom homered for the Cubs, whose five-game winning streak ended.
Chicago starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski (3-6) allowed 11 runs, though just four were earned, on 10 hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Suzuki’s 13th homer of the season put the Cubs up 1-0 in the first inning, before the Cardinals surged ahead 9-1 in their half of the frame.
Singles by Winn, Burleson and Willson Contreras produced one run, then Chicago’s defensive mishaps sparked St. Louis’ explosive inning.
Lars Nootbaar hit a chopper back to Wesneski, whose throwing error allowed Burleson to score. Arenado hit a grounder to third baseman Miles Mastrobuoni, who bobbled the ball and failed to get an out. Brendan Donovan hit a chopper that Wesneski muffed as another run scored.
With two outs, Wesneski hit Siani to force in another run. Winn dumped a two-run single into center field, then Burleson hit his three-run homer to blow the game open.
The Cardinals made it 10-1 in the second on singles by Arenado, Brendan Donovan and Pedro Pages.
The Cubs cut their deficit to 10-2 in the fourth inning on Mastrobuoni’s sacrifice fly that scored Ian Happ, who singled to lead off the frame.
St. Louis upped its lead to 11-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Arenado walked and scored on Nolan Gorman’s double.
Wisdom capped the scoring with his ninth-inning homer.
–Field Level Media
