CHICAGO – The strengthened St. Louis Cardinals tied a franchise record on Friday, spinning their 13th win, with a 12-4 beating of the Chicago Cubs, in the second game of a doubleheader.
Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run homer, while Lars Nootbaar had a pair of solo homers.
Harrison Bader added a manless homer on base, as well as a double and a single. The St. Louis hitting contributed five homers in the night game to sweep the double run and match the record set in July 1935.
The winning streak has catapulted St. Louis to the No. 2 wild-card spot in the National League playoffs, with a five-game lead over Philadelphia.
Paul DeJong had another home run, while Nootbaar added a single for three hits. Never before has Nootbaar hit more than one home run in a game.
O’Neill’s four-corner stick was his 31st of the season, his second on the day and his 10th in September.
Dakota Hudson (1-0) took the win in the second game. Zach Davies (6-12) was beaten for the fourth straight start and lost his sixth straight decision.
In the first game, home runs by Paul Goldschmidt and Tyler O’Neill allowed St. Louis to beat the Chicago Cubs 8-5.
Venezuelan José Rondón also provided a home run for San Luis, as a pinch-hitter. Tommy Edman finished with three hits.)
Alex Reyes (10-8) got five outs to pocket the victory and Mexican Giovanny Gallegos solved the seventh inning to reach 13 saves.
Sergio Alcantara homered for Chicago, which fell for the seventh time in eight games. Austin Romine hit a double that produced two runs and Willson Contreras also had an RBI double.
Goldschmidt hit 30 homers on the season. The ball disappeared in the third act, with a two-run hit across left field off Justin Steele (3-4).
In the evening match, for the Cardinals, Panamanian Edmundo Sosa 2-0.
For the Cubs, the Venezuelan Willson Contreras 3-1 with an RBI. The Dominican Alcántara 1-1 with one scored and two RBIs.
In the second game, for the Cardinals, Puerto Rican Yadier Molina 3-1 with two RBIs. Venezuelan José Rondón 1-0.
For the Cubs, Venezuelans Rafael Ortega 4-1. The Dominican Alcántara 3-0.
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