With two hits from Dansby Swanson and two RBIs from Jan Gomez, Chicago shut out the homestand, 6-4. The Cubs won the final three games of a four-game set against the Cardinals.

Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the third. The 2019 National League MVP has been in 31 games with a .381 batting average (43 in 113) and 24 RBIs since returning from a knee injury on June 15.

“Bellinger is like the heart and soul of the team, playing great defense,” Taillon said. “He always seems to have big hits. He has great energy.”

Bellinger, 28, hit .210 in his final season with the Dodgers last year. A two-time All-Star, he $17.5 million, 1-year contract with Chicago in December.

Bellinger has appeared in 68 games with the Cubs, batting .319 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs, but he’s not interested in proclaiming he’s reestablished himself as one of the game’s best hitters.

“No, definitely not,” Bellinger said. “I’m in good form, but I still have a lot of baseball left.

“Obviously, it could roll from here…but we need to go to more plate appearances and compete.”

With three hits from Nolan Arenado and two RBIs from Dylan Carlson, the disappointed Cardinals may be baseball’s most aggressive seller ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Jordan Montgomery (6-8), in his first loss since June 3, allowed seven runs, five earned runs and six hits in six innings. He has started the past seven games, going 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA.

Montgomery made a two-out error in the first inning, dropping soft comeback Ian Happ. Bellinger then hit his 14th home run on a 403-foot shot that hit the center basket.

The Cubs broke out with five runs in the third inning. Swanson singled out Seiya Suzuki and doubled back-to-back by Gomez and Trey Mancini for another three runs.

“Monty, in that one inning, he won,” said St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol. “The errors that followed the home runs were also a big part of the game.

“Today he had a bit of trouble finishing him off after he got him to two strikes.”

Taeyeon (4 wins, 6 losses) gave up 7 hits and 1 run in 2/3 of the 5th inning. He struck out six and walked one.

The right-handed pitcher has been stably starting three games in a row, including eight innings against the Yankees, after dropping to two wins and six losses.

“I definitely feel like I’m a closer version of myself now,” Tayyon said. “I was just pretending to be that way and having a ball every five days to see if I could find something that would give me traction.”

Taylor Motter was raised from Triple-A Memphis and started second base for St. Louis. The Cardinals opted for infielder Jose Fermin and released right-hander Jake Walsh.

Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright He’s off the disabled list and scheduled to start against Arizona on Monday. Wainwright, 41, was sent to IL for 15 days on July 5 with shoulder inflammation.

St. Louis: INF Nolan Gorman (waist) took the day off. …INF/OF’s Tommy Edman (right wrist inflammation) ready to move forward from teeing, Marmol said. This utility man was feeling pain in his wrist when swinging the bat.

Cubs: RHP’s Brad Boxberger (right forearm strain) will start pitching in the bullpen this week. … LHP Brandon Hughes (right knee inflammation) is playing catch.

Cardinals: Wainwright (3-4, 7.66 ERA) faces RHP’s Rein Nelson (6-5, 4.82 ERA) in Arizona on Monday.

Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 3.38 ERA) will pitch against White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (4-8, 4.29 ERA) at Guaranteed Rate Field Tuesday.