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.''

''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.''

''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.

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.