Six more times, a Cub homered in the game before the one in which he homered three times. Billy Williams, in 1968, and Kingman, in 1979, hit two homers in the game prior to smacking three. In 1978, Kingman homered once in the games both before and after his game with three.

Crow-Armstrong also went 4 for 4 and Dansby Swanson launched a two-run homer for Chicago. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly added solo shots as the NL Central leaders hit six homers in the first three innings off Miles Mikolas (4-6), a record for most home runs off a Cardinals pitcher in one game.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch joined a crazy team tradition with his huge game on Friday. Busch went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBIs in his Cubs’ 11-3 win over the St.