Kyle Hendricks won his ninth straight decision, Patrick Wisdom hit a two-run homer and Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 on Friday afternoon.
Kris Bryant drove in three runs with a pinch-hit double to start Chicago’s five-run burst in the seventh inning before Wisdom went deep against his former team.
Joc Pederson doubled twice, including a three-run hit in the first. Chicago won for the second time in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Bryant didn’t start for a second straight game because of a strained right hamstring, but hit the first pitch he saw from Junior Fernández to the wall in left filed with the bases loaded. The All-Star came home when Wisdom connected for his 12th homer to make it 9-2.
Hendricks (11-4) allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings while walking one and hitting a batter.
Wade LeBlanc worked only 3 innings, giving up 3 runs on five hits, walking 3. In all, eight Cardinal pitchers issued 7 walks.
The Cardinals signed RHP Luis García signed to a free agent contract on Friday, then brought in the veteran 34-year-old to start the fourth inning. García hit the first batter he faced, Willson Contreras, in the helmet with an 0-2 pitch. Contreras remained in the game behind the plate.
St. Louis optioned RHP Johan Oviedo to Triple-A Memphis to make room on the roster.
The Cardinals transferred Carlos Martínez (torn right thumb ligament) to the 60-day IL.
Cardinals RHP Kwang Hyun Kim (3-5, 3.39) faces Cubs RHP Zach Davies (5-5, 4.28) on Saturday night, 5:20 with the pregame and the first pitch at 6:15 on KIRX.