Tony Cruz hit a tiebreaking two-run double to cap a four-run seventh inning and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 10-9 on Monday night for their seventh straight win.
Mark Reynolds started the comeback for the NL Central leaders, who trailed 5-0 in the first, with his fourth career grand slam in the bottom of the inning. The Cardinals improved to 19-6 for the franchise's best start since 1900.
Miguel Socolovich (2-0) allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh and Seth Maness gave up a homer to rookie Addison Russell with two outs in the ninth before earning his second save. The Cardinals rested closer Trevor Rosenthal and other weary relievers after sweeping the Pirates in a weekend series totaling 35 innings with all three games decided in extra innings by a total score of 7-4.
Miguel Montero had two hits and three RBIs and pitcher Travis Wood had an RBI in the first for the Cubs, who jumped on Carlos Martinez. Anthony Rizzo homered and Kris Bryant had an infield hit and four walks for Chicago, which has lost four of five.
The Cardinals loaded the bases on two singles and a walk to start the seventh against Pedro Strop (0-2).
Kolten Wong's single off Zac Rosscup tied it ahead of the double just inside the third-base line through a drawn-in infield by Cruz, who caught on a rare day off for Yadier Molina. Wong homered in the 14th to beat the Pirates 3-2 on Sunday.
Martinez walked three of the first four hitters and was charged with seven runs in a season-low 3 2-3 innings. He entered among the league leaders with a 1.73 ERA and had won his three previous starts.
Chicago Baseball
Starlin Castro and Chris Denorfia added RBIs in the first for the Cubs.
The 19-6 record by St. Louis tops 18-6 starts by the 1941 and 1944 teams.
