Cubs score 5 early, hold off Cardinals 6-3

Christian Bethancourt and Michael Busch homered in a five-run second inning and the Cubs spoiled the Cardinals’ debut of new acquisition Erick Fedde as Chicago stretched its winning streak to three games with a 6-3 victory over St. Louis on Friday.

Tyson Miller (3-1), the first of four relievers, earned the victory and Héctor Neris picked up his 15th save as Chicago won its third straight game against its NL Central rivals.

The Cubs’ big inning came against Fedde (7-5), who was acquired earlier in the week from the White Sox in a three-team trade.

Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong added an RBI single in the second before Bethancourt hit a three-run homer to right-center field.

Busch followed a batter later with a solo shot.

Seiya Suzuki scored from second in the eighth inning after Kyle Leahy’s errant pickoff throw dribbled into center field.

The Cardinals got all three runs by drawing bases-loaded walks. 

Masyn Winn added two hits for St. Louis, which has dropped five of its last eight games.

Cubs starter Javier Assad allowed four hits, walked three and struck out three in the opening four innings.

St. Louis’ Kyle Gibson (7-4, 3.97 ERA) faces fellow right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-6, 3.35) on Saturday.



(AP Photo Erin Hooley)