Cubs roll past Cardinals for 11th straight win
CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras combined for five early RBIs while right-hander Jake Arrieta allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Chicago Cubs scored early and late in Friday's 13-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bryant was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI while Contreras slammed a three-run homer to pace an early attack as the Cubs scored seven times in the first two innings off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright.
The Cubs used the long ball for six late runs -- all off Cardinals reliever Jerome Williams.
Leadoff batter Matt Szczur went 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored, including a sixth-inning solo home run and a two-run blast in the seventh. Jorge Soler added a bases-empty shot later in the sixth while Javier Baez clubbed a two-run shot -- his 12th of the year -- in the seventh.
Arrieta (14-5) won his second straight decision, continuing a rebound from a July slump that saw three losses and two no-decisions.
The victory was the Cubs' 11th straight and second over the Cardinals in a four-game weekend series.
Chicago (73-41) now has a 14-game lead over second-place St. Louis (60-56) in the NL Central.
Wainwright (9-7) was hammered early, giving up seven runs and departing after just two innings.
The Cubs sent eight men to the plate as they jumped on Wainwright for two first-inning runs.
Bryant's double into the left-field corner with none out opened a 1-0 lead. His 27th double of the season drove in Szczur who opened with a two-base hit to right.
Addison Russell made it 2-0 with a double to deep center with one out, scoring Bryant.
Bryant collected another double and RBI in the second when he brought home Szczur with a hit to the wall in left-center. Soler scored Bryant with a two-out single to shallow center for a 4-0 lead.
It was the start of a five-run inning, capped by Contreras' seventh home run of the season. His first-pitch homer to left-center plated Soler and Russell.
Wainwright did not return for the third, replaced by reliever Seth Maness. Wainwright allowed seven runs on six hits, walked three and struck out a pair while throwing 56 pitches.
Arrieta sailed through three innings and then loaded the bases in the fourth before pinch hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker flied out to Contreras in left to end the frame.
Arrieta lost the shutout with one out in the fifth when Stephen Piscotty clubbed his 16th homer of the season, a solo shot to center.
He departed with two out in the sixth and a runner on base for reliever Justin Grimm, making his second appearance since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. Arrieta allowed one run on four hits, struck out six and walked just two and threw 105 pitches over his 5 2/3 innings.
Jedd Gyorko hit his 16th homer of the seasoning the eighth off Cubs reliever Joe Smith.
NOTES: Cardinals OF Matt Holliday was scheduled to see a Chicago hand specialist on Friday after suffering a fractured thumb in the 10th inning of Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Cubs. ... Holliday was placed on the 15-day disabled list but the Cardinals did not immediately make a corresponding move. ... St. Louis RHP Luke Weaver makes his major league debut in Saturday's third game of the series and faces Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (11-7, 2.17 ERA). ... Hendricks was named NL co-player of the week (with Miami's Ichiro Suzuki) on Monday. ... The Cubs have had winning streaks of 10 games or more in August or later just five times and none since a 10-game run in September 1953. ... The Cubs' plus-189 run differential entering Friday was by far the highest in the majors. Washington was second with a plus-136. ... Chicago's homestand continues with games against the Cardinals on Saturday and Sunday followed by a four-game series with the Brewers beginning next Tuesday.