Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer, and the Chicago Cubs stopped St. Louis’ six-game win streak with a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals on Friday.

Bellinger capped Chicago’s four-run third inning with a 400-foot drive to right against Jack Flaherty. He finished with three hits in another strong performance at the plate.

The Cubs (46-51) improved to 4-4 on their 10-game home stand.

All-Star left-hander Justin Steele (10-3) struck out a season-high nine in 6 1/3 innings for Chicago, bouncing back from a lackluster performance against Boston. He allowed two runs and six hits.

Flaherty (7-6) was charged with four runs and eight hits and six innings. The right-hander went 4-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his previous four starts.

St. Louis trailed 4-1 before Nolan Arenado hit a two-run single against Julian Merryweather with two out in the seventh.

The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out in the eighth on walks to Tyler O’Neill, Jordan Walker and Paul DeJong. Pinch-hitter Alec Burleson then had a 3-0 count against Mark Leiter Jr. before he looked at two called strikes that appeared to be outside.

Burleson bounced into an inning-ending double play, and then was ejected for yelling at plate umpire Ron Kulpa.

Both Burleson and Cardinals manager Oilver Marmol were angered by what they felt was an expanded strike zone.

Adbert Alzolay worked the ninth for his eighth save. Arenado reached on second baseman Christopher Morel’s two-out error and Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch before O’Neill flied out to center.

UP NEXT

Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (6-5, 4.14 ERA) takes the mound on Saturday against RHP Michael Fulmer (1-5, 4.43 ERA).