Willson 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.

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.

Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner departed with left hamstring tightness after he got hurt running the bases in the fifth. Hoerner is batting .303 on the season.

It was Chicago's fifth loss in seven games.

The Cubs had a chance for another run in the fifth, but Nick Madrigal was cut down by Brendan Donovan on Cody Bellinger's fly ball to left. Third baseman Patrick Wisdom also lost out on an opportunity for an inning-ending double play when he contemplated throwing home on Contreras' run-scoring grounder in the eighth.

Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado was scratched because of neck stiffness in what the team said was a precautionary move.

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.