Like so many other days at Wrigley Field, Willson Contreras seized the moment.

This time, in a St. Louis Cardinals jersey.

Contreras had two hits and two RBIs in his return to Chicago, including a tiebreaking double, and the Cardinals beat the Cubs 3-1 on Monday night.

St. Louis also got a strong effort from its bullpen in its second straight win after an eight-game losing streak. Génesis Cabrera (1-0), Jordan Hicks and Ryan Helsley combined for 4 2/3 innings of one-hit ball in relief of Miles Mikolas. Helsley got his fourth save.

It was the Cardinals’ first win in 12 series openers. The streak of 11 straight losses in such games to begin the season was a franchise record.

Contreras singled and scored on Dylan Carlson’s single in the second. He made it 2-1 when he rocketed a double off the wall in center in the sixth, and then added a run-scoring fielder’s choice in the eighth.

Dansby Swanson hit an RBI double in the fifth to account for Chicago’s only run. Marcus Stroman (2-3) pitched six innings of two-run ball.

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Right-handers Jack Flaherty (2-4, 6.29 ERA) and Jameson Taillon (0-2, 5.29 ERA) take the mound Tuesday night. Flaherty lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his previous start with St. Louis, surrendering a career-high 10 runs in an 11-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Taillon is looking for his first win in his fifth start for Chicago since signing with the team in free agency.