Morel and Crow-Armstrong hit 2 HRs each, lifting the Cubs over the Cardinals 8-3

ST. LOUIS -- — Pete Crow-Armstrong and Christopher Morel each homered twice to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Tomas Nido and Ian Happ also homered for the Cubs, who split the four-game set against their NL Central rivals.

Alec Burleson homered for St. Louis.

Crow-Armstrong hit solo homers in the third and fifth innings. Nido snapped a 2-all tie with his fourth of the season in the fifth.

The six homers was the most since the Cubs got seven on Aug 1, 2023, against Cincinnati.

Crow-Armstrong entered the game with a .194 average and only one home run. He also stole his 17th base of the season.

“It’s no secret that I’ve been pretty (bad) at the plate,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s just kind of evening out and acting like I belong here. It was a good day. Something in the air, I guess.”

Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs player to homer twice out of the No. 9 spot in the batting order since Ryan Lavarnway on July 19, 2019, against Cincinnati.

“It was his best day in the big leagues, and it was fun to watch,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said.

Morel, who has 18 homers, hit a two-run shot in the sixth and a solo home run in the eighth.

Chicago, which has won six of eight, recorded back-to-back homers in the fifth and eighth innings.

Jameson Taillon (7-4) allowed three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.

“It wasn’t even close to my best stuff,” Taillon said. “But I think we proved we can play with anybody. It’s a message to ourselves.”

Chicago closed a seven-game road trip in style. It began with a three-game sweep in Baltimore.

“We’ve been trending in the right direction for a long time,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s fun when stuff starts coming together.”

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas (7-8) surrendered six runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He gave up four home runs.

Brendan Donovan had three hits and reached base four times for the Cardinals.

St. Louis closer Ryan Helsley, the Cardinals’ lone all-star, said the four-game set with Chicago was, “a good, tough series.”

Helsley has a major-league leading 32 saves.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: LHP Luke Little has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. He will be reevaluated during the All-Star break.

Cardinals: OF Michael Siani missed his second game with an elbow injury.

UP NEXT:

Cubs: Host Arizona in a three-game series beginning Friday.

Cardinals: Visit Atlanta for a three-games set Friday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb