Kwang Hyun-Kim earned his fifth straight win on his 33rd birthday and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 Thursday night.
Nolan Arenado and Dylan Carlson homered as the Cardinals improved to a game over .500. It’s the Cardinals first winning record since June 20.
Kim (6-5) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.
Alex Reyes pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 23rd save after suffering his first career blown save on Tuesday night.
Play was stopped for about four minutes in the bottom of the seventh after Dillon Maples hit Edmundo Sosa in the helmet with a 95 mph fastball. Cubs catcher Willson Contreras immediately summoned the Cardinals training staff. After a few anxious minutes of tests and observation, Sosa remained in the game.
Paul Goldschmidt went hitless in two at-bats, with a pair of walks, snapping the longest active hitting streak in the majors at 16 games.
RHP Jack Flaherty (oblique) threw an extended pregame bullpen session. Shildt said if he emerges unscathed, he could face hitters next time he throws. … RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon (shoulder) pitched a scoreless inning Thursday night in a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis.
LHP Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 4.31 ERA) will start at Cincinnati Friday night, 5:15 with the pregame and the first pitch at 6:10 on KIRX.
Idle Milwaukee is still in first place, 6 1/2 ahead of the second place Reds, the third place Cardinals are 7 games out.