Cubs 4, Cardinals 2 (10): Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift host Chicago over St. Louis.

The left-handed hitting Rizzo’s third hit of the contest was a line shot over the left-field fence as the Cubs defeated the Cardinals for the second straight day.

Starlin Castro led off the 10th with a single to right against St. Louis rookie Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) before Rizzo belted his seventh homer of the season.

James Russell (5-0) worked a scoreless top of the 10th for the Cubs, who have won 18 of their last 28 games.

Carlos Beltran tied the contest in the eighth with an opposite-field homer to left off Shawn Camp that barely cleared the fence.

Chicago starter Paul Maholm, who was seeking his sixth straight victory, allowed just one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings and left with a 2-1 lead. He struck out five and walked four.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first when leadoff hitter David DeJesus tripled and scored on Castro’s groundout.

Chicago added a second-inning run when shortstop Daniel Descalso made a poor throw to first on a double-play attempt, allowing Darwin Barney to score.

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright allowed just two runs and six hits in six innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cardinals 3B David Freese (calf) returned from a two-game absence and went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. … Rizzo has two or more hits in three of his last four games. … St. Louis SS Rafael Furcal (back) missed his second straight contest. … Maholm has allowed just five runs in his last six starts.