Matt Carpenter hit three home runs and drove in seven runs to back five strong innings of pitching from Jack Flaherty as the St. Louis Cardinals powered their way past the host Chicago Cubs 18-5 on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
Carpenter also slugged two doubles as part of his 5-for-5 performance, becoming the second player ever to hit three homers and two doubles in the same game. “I’m having a hard time coming up with the words to describe a day like this,” Carpenter said.
The Cubs’ Kris Bryant first accomplished the feat in 2016.
Carpenter tied the major league record with five extra-base hits in a game, and he’s the first player to record the feat in the first six innings of a game. He was replaced defensively in the bottom of the sixth with the Cardinals leading 15-1.
He tied former Cardinals great Lou Brock’s franchise mark with his 21st leadoff home run of his career off the Cubs’ Jon Lester to begin the game.
Carpenter slugged his second homer, a two-run shot, in the second inning, and he added to his hit total when he racked up a pair doubles in the fourth as St. Louis marched 11 batters to the plate in the frame while scoring seven runs. He opened the inning with a double to left and capped the scoring in the frame with an RBI double to right-center.
Then in the sixth, Carpenter bashed a three-run homer, his 23rd of the season, to end his record performance. He has homered in four straight games for the first time in his career. Carpenter was not the only story in this game, as Flaherty (4-4) earned the win while allowing one run and just two hits in his 110-pitch outing that included nine strikeouts and four walks.
Lester (12-3), who had been brilliant in winning eight of his past nine starts, took the loss after surrendering eight runs, all earned, on seven hits and five walks in three innings of work. He struck out just one batter.
In an effort to conserve his bullpen for a doubleheader Saturday, Cubs manager Joe Maddon used three position players to pitch the final 3 1/3 innings. Infielder Tommy La Stella (three hits, one run) came to the mound first, followed by catcher Victor Caratini (two hits, two runs) and outfielder Ian Happ (one hit, no runs). Tommy Pham had three hits and three RBIs for St. Louis, while Kolten Wong ripped two hits and drove in one. Dexter Fowler had two hits and plated two, and Greg Garcia had a solo home run for the Cardinals.
Yairo Munoz added a two-run blast in the eighth. Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. each had two of Chicago’s 10 total hits, with Schwarber driving in two runs. Bryant added a solo home run in the seventh, when the game was long over.

‘Mannywood’ makes an impact in Dodgers debut
Manny Machado made a splash in his debut on Friday in the home of Hollywood with a multi-hit game as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 at Miller Park. Machado, who started at shortstop, batted second in the order and wasted no time making an impact with a single in his first at-bat off Milwaukee starting pitcher Wade Miley in the top of the first. Considered one of the prize catches on the Major League Baseball trade market this season, Machado was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in exchange for five prospects.
“This is a great team and I am looking forward to the rest of the season,” said Machado who finished two-for-three at the plate. “They made me feel right at home the first day here.”
Machado walked in his next two at-bats and delivered his second single in the seventh inning off relief pitcher Taylor Williams in front of a Milwaukee crowd of 36,800.
“He’s our new Mannywood,” said Dodger pitcher Kenley Jansen. A decade ago another Manny, Manny Ramirez, led the Dodgers to the National League championship series.
Machado slides into the shortstop position with Corey Seager out after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in May. “For seven years I put on the same uniform,” Machado said. “I finally got traded and everything is behind me now. I feel great. I was pretty nervous about it at first but that blue (jersey) looks good on me.”
Machado chose to wear number eight for the Dodgers as a homage to his favourite NBA player Kobe Bryant.
“My dog is named Kobe,” he said. No doubt that was a relief for the Dodgers’ Max Muncy who wears the No 13 that Machado donned during his time with the Orioles.
Machado was hitting .315, with 24 home runs and 65 RBIs for the Orioles this season and the Dodgers are hoping he can maintain that blistering pace.
“We think Manny was the most impactful player on the market at the time, and any contender could see he could make a positive impact for him,” general manager Farhan Zaidi said.

RESULTS
Cardinals    16    Cubs    18
Dodgers    6    Brewers    4
Astros    3    Angels    1
Mets     7    Yankees    5
Red Sox     1     Tigers     0
Pirates     12     Reds     1
Braves     8     Nationals     5
Phillies     11     Padres     5
Rockies     11     Diamondbacks 10
Blue Jays     8     Orioles    7
(10 innings)
Indians     9     Rangers     8
(11 innings)
Mariners    3     White Sox    1
Marlins    6    Rays    5
Royals    6    Twins    5
Giants    5    Athletics    1