Kris Bryant on Cubs’ series win in St. Louis: ‘Great way to end a pretty average road trip’

9:44 PM ET

ST. LOUIS — Lost in the notion that Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta looked human on Wednesday and in shaky moments as the bullpen almost blew a 9-4 lead is the fact that the Cubs once again won a series against the used-to-be-invincible St. Louis Cardinals. The finale was a nail-biter, but the visitors came out on top 9-8.

Remember, this was a Cubs team on the verge of a disastrous road trip after they lost Game 1 on Monday. The Cubs entered Tuesday 2-5 on the trip, including series losses in Milwaukee and San Francisco. But as tough as it was to score runs for seven games, that’s in the rearview mirror, after the Cubs put up 21 runs on the formerly vaunted Cardinals pitching staff.

“A great way to end a pretty average road trip,” is the way slugger Kris Bryant summed it up after Wednesday’s victory.

Added manager Joe Maddon: “We’ve been pitching so well and not hitting, so it’s nice for the offense to pick up the pitching for a change.”

If you’re keeping track, the Cubs have won five consecutive series against the Cardinals, including their playoff meeting the past season, in which St. Louis had home-field advantage. Both series victories this season have come on the road. No longer is Busch Stadium a house of horrors for the Cubs — no matter how close Wednesday’s game got.

Kris Bryant, right, hit a three-run homer to get the Cubs to nine runs in the sixth inning Wednesday. They would need all of them. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

“I picked a good day to be s—ty,” Arrieta said after he gave up four runs in five innings.

Yes, Arrieta’s ERA has risen lately, but it’s still a nifty 1.72, even though the …

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