Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run single in the first that ended Adam Wainwright's scoreless streak at 25 innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 Friday for their third win in four games.
Wainwright (5-2) had allowed six runs in 45 innings coming in, but the Cubs matched the runs total in just five innings against the St. Louis ace, who gave up 10 hits. His ERA rose from 1.20 to 2.16.
The scoreless streak was one inning shy of the career high for Wainwright, who had not allowed an extra-base hit since April 12 against the Cubs in St. Louis.
Rizzo added a leadoff home run in the fifth that put Chicago ahead 6-3. Welington Castillo had three doubles for Chicago, which sent the skidding Cardinals to their 10th loss in 16 games.
Travis Wood (2-3) gave up three runs — two earned — and six hits in seven innings but allowed just one runner in his final three innings. Justin Grimm gave up Jhonny Peralta's two-run homer in the eighth, Hector Rondon pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
St. Louis overcame its early deficit, tying the game in the third when Matt Carpenter singled in a run and scored on Peralta's double.
Chicago loaded the bases in the bottom half on a pair of walks around Starlin Castro's single. Ryan Sweeney drove in the go-ahead run with a weak grounder to second that allowed Rizzo to score from third, and Castillo followed with a two-out, two-run double.
Chicago Baseball
Castro's throwing error from shortstop on Randal Grichuk's grounder allowed Yadier Molina to close to 5-3 in the fourth.
