ST. LOUIS — Michael Busch hit a three-run home run, Matt Shaw added a solo shot and an RBI triple and the Chicago Cubs routed the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 on Saturday night.
After getting shut out 5-0 in Friday’s series opener, the Cubs built a six-run lead against Andre Pallante (6-9) by the second inning. Colin Rea (9-5) allowed one run in six innings, and Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson each had three of the Cubs’ 13 hits.
The Cubs remained five games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, who beat the New York Mets 7-4 for their eighth straight victory.
Busch set the tone by leading off the game with a double into the right-field corner, then scoring on Kyle Tucker’s RBI single. Tucker scored when right-fielder Jordan Walker’s throw got away from Willson Contreras, the cut-of