Bethancourt, Busch homers in 5-run second inning as Cubs spoil Fedde’s debut with Cardinals 6-3 originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Christian Bethancourt and Michael Busch scored a five-run second inning and the Cubs spoiled the Cardinals’ debut of new acquisition Erick Fedde, as Chicago extended its winning streak to three games with a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis on Friday.
Tyson Miller (3-1), the first of four relievers, picked up the win and Héctor Neris made 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 by the White Sox in a three-team trade. The 31-year-old right-hander gave up the first five runs and six hits and finished with four strikeouts in five innings.
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 on second in the eighth inning after an errant pitch from Kyle Leahy dribbled into center field.
The Cardinals got all three runs by drawing bases-loaded walks. Paul Goldschmidt won the first against Assad in the third, and Tommy Pham and Brendan Donovan got two passes out in the eighth from Julian Merryweather and Neris, respectively. Neris struck out pinch-hitter Brandon Crawford to end the threat.
Masyn Winn had two hits for St. Louis, which has lost five of its last eight games.
Cubs starter Javier Assad allowed four hits, walked three and struck out three in the first four innings.
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Louis’ Kyle Gibson (7-4, 3.97 ERA) faces right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-6, 3.35) on Saturday.
