Cody Bellinger continued his sizzling pace with a two-run homer and three RBIs, Jameson Taillon allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings and the host Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 on Sunday to take the four-game series.

Perhaps the majors' hottest player in July, Bellinger opened the scoring in the first inning with his seventh homer of the month, then delivered a sacrifice fly during Chicago's five-run third. The former National League MVP is batting .436 with 22 RBIs in his last 25 games.

Taillon (4-6) gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out six, with his only run coming with two outs in the sixth on the first of Dylan Carlson's two RBI singles on the day. Taillon has yielded just four runs over 19 1/3 innings in his past three starts.

Chicago moved to three games under .500 after winning for the fifth time in six contests.

St. Louis' Jordan Montgomery (6-8) allowed seven runs (five earned) with six hits and two walks over six innings, striking out four. Nolan Arenado had three hits for the Cardinals, who opened this series with a 7-2 victory on Thursday but are winless following a six-game winning streak.

Montgomery appeared set to retire the Cubs in order in the bottom of the first, but he booted Ian Happ's grounder back to the mound. The torrid Bellinger then followed by depositing a sinker into the right-center-field basket for his 14th home run.

Bellinger ignited things during the Cubs' breakout third inning when his sacrifice fly with the bases loaded made it a 3-0 contest. Dansby Swanson (two hits) followed with an RBI single, then Yan Gomes plated two via a double into the left field gap before coming home on Trey Mancini's double down the left field line.

St. Louis' Willson Contreras (hip) and Nolan Gorman (back) were not available Sunday. Cardinals star Paul Goldschmidt received a scheduled day off.

--Field Level Media