Nathan Church and Masyn Winn hit 3-run HRs, Cardinals pound Cubs 17-1

CHICAGO (AP) — Nathan Church and Masyn Winn hit three-run homers and the St. Louis Cardinals had 17 hits overall to cool off the Chicago Cubs 17-1 on Friday.

Winn and Alec Burleson had two hits and four RBIs each to help St. Louis win for the fourth time in its last five games and end NL Central rival Chicago’s five-game win streak. Ivan Herrera and Blaze Jordan had three hits each.

Cardinals starter Andre Pallante (10-5) limited the Cubs to five hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings.

Church’s drive off David Peterson (4-7) in the second inning was his third in four games. The center fielder has eight RBIs in the span.

Alex Bregman had two hits and drove in the Cubs' run with a double in the seventh inning. The Cubs, who beat San Diego 23-3 on Wednesday, became the first team to win a game by 20 or more runs, then lose the next by 10 or more, per Elias Sports Bureau.

Peterson gave up a career-high 10 earned runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in his second start with the Cubs since being acquired from the Mets on June 25. The Cardinals went on to build a 17-0 lead, their biggest over an opponent since an 18-0 lead at Pittsburgh on May 22, 2022.

Peterson was struck in the shoulder by Jordan’s comebacker with two outs in the second, but remained in the game. The left-hander yielded Church’s drive to right on a down-the-middle curve in the next at-bat for a 3-0 St. Louis lead.

Peterson was tagged for three more runs in the third, then four in the fourth after walking the bases loaded.

Bryse Wilson relieved and allowed Winn’s homer, on an 0-2 pitch, that made it 11-0.

The Cardinals tacked on three runs off Wilson in the fifth, two more in the sixth and another in the seventh.

The game was delayed by 10 minutes by thunderstorms.

Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy (6-4, 4.09 ERA) faces Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (5-6, 4.30) on Saturday night.

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Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong flies out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, July 3, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nelson Velázquez hits his two-RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 3, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

St. Louis Cardinals' Bryan Torres (39 celebrates after hitting a home run with José Fermín (15) during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 3, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

St. Louis Cardinals' Andre Pallante throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 3, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nathan Church celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 3, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The World Cup match between Mexico and England on Sunday will remain at the original scheduled time despite concerns about a potential afternoon thunderstorm.

FIFA had been looking at the possibility of starting the round of 16 game at the Azteca Stadium earlier than the scheduled 6 p.m. local time (8 p.m. EDT), a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

But a Mexican federation official told the AP that after deliberation FIFA decided the match would remain unchanged.

That person also spoke on condition on anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

Among the reasons for exploring the change was because of possible disruption caused by flooding.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre criticized the proposed change earlier Friday.

“It’s a kick in the gut; now we must change everything. It’s not that all the work goes down the drain — though it’s close — because you’re having to scrap six hours of scheduled planning. I don’t like it at all,” Aguirre told Radio Formula. “Obviously, we’ll abide by what FIFA says, but neither my players nor I are happy about it.”

Rescheduling the match also could have affected England’s preparations. The Three Lions are scheduled to arrive late Friday and will hold their Saturday training session at the grounds of UNAM Pumas in the southern part of the capital, leaving them with significantly less time to acclimate to Mexico City’s high elevation.

The Azteca Stadium sits at more than 7,300 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level. For elite athletes to perform at their peak at high altitude, a period of adaption is required to reduce fatigue caused by lower atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen availability, experts say. Sports scientists generally recommend an extended acclimation period of at least two weeks, or the “fly-in, fly-out” method of arriving as close to game time as possible before acute symptoms set in.

England coach Thomas Tuchel has already spoken about the difficulties his team faces in Mexico City.

“My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have,” Tuchel said this week. “It just takes too much time.”

The game will be Mexico City's fifth and final match of this year's World Cup.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Fans wait as the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador is delayed due to a thunderstorm, in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

General view before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

A Mexican fan waits in the rain for the start of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )