ST. LOUIS — Nelson Velázquez hit a three-run homer and Iván Herrera and Thomas Saggese added solo shots, powering the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs in the first meeting of the season between the teams Friday night.
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Promoted from Triple-A Memphis before the game, Velázquez hit the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to tie the game 3-3. It was his first game in the majors since June 23, 2024, when he played with Kansas City. He was 0-for-6 in 2023 in games against the Cubs, a team he played for in 2022-23.
St. Louis snapped a four-game losing streak. The Cubs entered the game winning their last two after losing their previous 10 games.
Gordon Graceffo (4-1) picked up the win with a spotless inning in relief.
Riley O’Brien, the sixth reliever used, earned his 14th save. He allowed a run when Pete Crow-Armstrong scored on a groundout by Michael Busch.
Shota Imanaga (4-6) worked 5 1/3 inning and allowed five runs and five hits.
José Fermín singled home a run in the eighth with two outs, extending the lead to 6-4.
Herrera put St. Louis ahead 5-4 with a solo homer in the fifth inning. He has homered in three of last eight games.
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Saggese hit his first homer of the season in the fourth with two outs, tying the game 4-4. It was his fourth career home run.
Chicago went ahead 4-3 in the second on a run-scoring single by Busch, who had three hits.
Happ gave the Cubs a 3-0 when he hit a two-out homer off starter Andre Pallante, who pitched three innings. It was the third consecutive game Happ has hit a homer.
Cubs RHP Ben Brown (1-2, 2.01) goes against Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (5-3, 4.44) on Saturday .
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