StL 4, Chi 2

Friday, May 22- The St. Louis Cardinals scored three times in the third inning, and it was enough to hold off the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, in a game pitting two red hot teams at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals (22-15) have won 14 of 19, while the Cubs (19-20) entered the game on a five-game winning streak.

Pending the outcome of the Giants-Dodgers game, the Cards have a chance to move within one-half game of the first place Giants.

George Crowe (5, in 32 AB) added a solo homer for the Cardinals in the fifth inning, one frame after the Cubs scored twice to pull within 3-2. The big hit in the Cardinals' third inning was Gene Green's two-run single.

Four Cardinals pitchers limited the Cubs to two runs and eight hits. Bob Gibson (3) got the save, pitching the ninth. The winner was Gary Blaylock (4-3), who went 6.2 innings. Marshall Bridges and Dave Ricketts chipped in with 1.1 innings of shutout relief between them.

The loser was Glenn Hobbie (4-5), who went seven innings.

George Altman had three hits and scored a run in a losing cause.