Less Starlin Castro has meant more production for the Chicago Cubs.

Castro hit a three-run homer with four RBIs in an 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Castro, the Cubs' longtime starting shortstop, was moved to second base last month to make room for rookie Addison Russell and is hitting .252 in semi-regular duty. But he's batting .323 in his last 34 games after hitting just .101 the previous 19.

Anthony Rizzo also homered and had three RBIs for the Cubs in the middle game of a three-game series. Rizzo's two-run homer in the first was the 100th of his career.

St. Louis was down 8-0 and had been outscored 24-1 over three games before pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk sparked a five-run seventh with a two-run homer estimated at 451 feet into Big Mac Land in the seventh. Grichuk was activated from the disabled list strictly to pinch run on Monday.

Pedro Strop struck out Grichuk with the bases loaded to end the threat, pumping his fist as he jumped off the mound. Hector Rondon earned his 27th save in 31 chances.

Rookie Stephen Piscotty had two hits and two RBIs for St. Louis.

Jason Hammel (8-6) allowed three runs in six-plus innings for Chicago.

Michael Wacha (15-5) gave up six runs in four innings, his shortest outing of the season and on 10 days' rest. Like Lance Lynn a day earlier, the 24-year-old right-hander got pushed back and it backfired.

The Cardinals have the best record in the majors at 87-51, but have dropped five of six. Their lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central slipped to 4 1/2 games. The Cubs are 6 1/2 back and are second in the NL wild-card race behind the Pirates.

Jon Lester (9-10, 3.59) is 1-2 but with a 1.96 ERA in three starts against St. Louis this season. Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.04) is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA against the Cubs.

>>Sox Blast Tribe

Soft-spoken rookie Carlos Rodon is quietly on an impressive roll for the White Sox.

Rodon allowed one run through seven innings and Rob Brantly smacked a three-run homer for his first American League hit to lead Chicago past the Cleveland Indians 7-4 on Tuesday night.

Jose Abreu went 3 for 4 - including his 26th homer and a double - to drive in two runs and help the White Sox win for the fifth time in six games. Trayce Thompson also had two RBIs.

Rodon (7-6) scattered five hits, struck out eight and walked one in his sixth straight quality start. He is 3-2 in that span while yielding eight earned runs in his last 41 innings.

Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer off White Sox reliever Nate Jones in the eighth and pinch-hitter Jose Ramirez added a solo shot against Zach Duke in the ninth. Mike Aviles had three hits and drove in the Indians' other run.

Brantly lined the first pitch he saw in the second inning from Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco (12-10) into the right-field bullpen to put Chicago ahead 3-0.

Carrasco lasted just 2 2-3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in his first start since Aug. 21. He was on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

Indians RHP Josh Tomlin (4-1, 2.55 ERA) faces Jeff Samardzija (9-11, 4.87) in the series finale Wednesday night.