Cardinals 3, Cubs 2: Carlos Beltran fell a home run shy of the cycle while also scoring and driving in a run as visiting St. Louis evened its four-game series with Chicago at one game apiece.

Matt Carpenter had two hits while also scoring and driving in a run and Allen Craig added an RBI single. Making his second start, Joe Kelly (1-3) yielded one run on three hits in 5 1/3 solid innings as the National League Central-leading Cardinals posted their sixth win in seven contests.

Alfonso Soriano had an RBI single in the third inning to snap a 1-for-20 slump versus St. Louis. Starlin Castro led off the eighth with a home run to trim the Cubs' deficit to 3-2, but Edward Mujica retired the side in order in the ninth for his 26th save.

Beltran set the tone early by plating Carpenter after depositing an 0-2 curveball from Carlos Villanueva (2-5) into the right-field corner for an RBI triple. Beltran didn't have long to wait on third as Craig jumped on a 1-1 fastball and ripped it up the middle.

Villanueva permitted two runs on four hits in six innings before giving way to Matt Guerrier, who allowed a triple to Rob Johnson in the seventh. Carpenter brought him home with an RBI double to give the Cardinals a 3-1 advantage.

GAME NOTEBOOK: St. Louis LF Matt Holliday was a spectator, one day removed after exiting the series opener with a tight right hamstring. ... 3B Kris Bryant, who was the second overall pick in the 2013 first-year player draft, agreed to a $6.7 million signing bonus with Chicago. The 21-year-old is expected to be assigned to Class A Boise. ... Cardinals C Yadier Molina went 0-for-3 to extend his hitless drought to 16 consecutive at-bats.