ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — 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 on Friday night.

Promoted from Triple-A Memphis before the game, Velázquez tied it 3-3 in the first inning with a drive to left-center. It was his first major league game since June 23, 2024, with Kansas City. The Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak.

Ian Happ gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead with a three-run homer in the top of the first. Chicago added a run in the second on Michael Busch’s single and scored once in the ninth on a Busch groundout.

St. Louis tied the game in the fifth on Herrera’s homer and took the lead in the eighth on José Fermín’s single. Gordon Graceffo (4-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Riley O’Brien earned his 14th save. Shota Imanaga (4-6) took the loss.

The Cubs had 11 hits, the Cardinals nine. Attendance was 37,564. Time of game was 2:32.