Cardinals bury Cubs with 9-run first inning

Alec Burleson hit a three-run homer and scored twice as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting Chicago Cubs 11-3 Saturday afternoon in the first half of a split doubleheader.

Nolan Arenado scored three times and Masyn Winn added two runs and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who snapped their three-game losing streak.

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (5-4) allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

St. Louis center fielder Michael Siani exited the game with a left elbow contusion, which he suffered when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning.

Seiya Suzuki and Patrick Wisdom homered for the Cubs, whose five-game winning streak ended.

Chicago starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski (3-6) allowed 11 runs, though just four were earned, on 10 hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Suzuki's homer put the Cubs up 1-0 in the first inning before the Cardinals surged ahead 9-1 in their half of the frame.

Singles by Winn, Burleson and Willson Contreras produced one run, then Chicago's defensive mishaps sparked St. Louis' explosive inning.

Lars Nootbaar hit a chopper back to Wesneski, whose throwing error allowed Burleson to score. Arenado hit a grounder to third baseman Miles Mastrobuoni, who bobbled the ball and failed to get an out. Brendan Donovan hit a chopper that Wesneski muffed as another run scored.

With two outs, Wesneski hit Siani to force in another run. Winn dumped a two-run single into center field, then Burleson hit his three-run homer to blow the game open.

The Cardinals made it 10-1 in the third on singles by Arenado, Donovan and Pedro Pages.

The Cubs cut their deficit to 10-2 in the fourth inning on Mastrobuoni's sacrifice fly that scored Ian Happ, who singled to lead off the frame.

St. Louis upped its lead to 11-2 in the fifth when Arenado walked and scored on Nolan Gorman's double.

Wisdom capped the scoring with his ninth-inning homer.

--Field Level Media