“Yeah, my debut,” he said. “That was a long time ago.”

Castro accomplished that in his first big league appearance, at Cincinnati on May 7, 2010 at Cincinnati.

He did it again Friday, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth inning and a three-run drive in the sixth to lead the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 8-3 Friday for their fourth straight win.

Castro went 3 for 3 with a walk in the third multihomer game of his career. He put the Cubs ahead 5-3 in the fifth with his drive off Seth Maness (4-2), then connected off Steve Cishek in the sixth for his 10th homer this season.

Castro, who lost his starting shortstop job in early August, has not lost his swing and upbeat attitude, according to manager Joe Maddon. And the infielder loved the curtain call following his second homer.

“I have like six years here and that never happened, never,” Castro said. “That’s my first time and I enjoyed it so much.”

Maddon was heartened by Castro’s performance and recognition.

“When his name has been called, he’s been ready,” Maddon said. “I’ve been nothing but impressed with him this whole time.

Chicago began the day two games behind Pittsburgh for the NL’s top wild-card berth. The Cubs closed within six games of the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

Tommy Hunter (2-0), the second Chicago reliever, got one out in the fifth, and Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop, Fernando Rodney and Neil Ramirez combined for four scoreless innings of two-hit relief.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn lasted 3 1/3 innings and threw 83 pitches, allowing three runs, four hits and six walks. He is 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA in his last three starts, giving up 12 runs, 15 hits and 11 walks in 11 2/3 innings.

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny and a trainer went to the mound to speak with Lynn with one out in the fourth. Lynn walked Dexter Fowler and was replaced by Tyler Lyons.

“I was a little caught on the mound. That happens sometimes as the game goes on,” Lynn said.

Chicago starter Dan Haren gave up three runs — one earned — and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Matheny and Matt Belisle, the sixth St. Louis reliever, were ejected in the seventh after Belisle hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch.

“Obviously there was a warning, but I had to try to pitch in, so what can you do,” Belisle said.

Plate umpire Dan Bellino had issued a warning after St. Louis pinch hitter Matt Holliday was struck on the back of the helmet by a pitch from Haren in the fifth. After walking to first, Holliday was replaced by pinch-runner Pete Kozma.

Matheny said Holliday sustained only a bruise. Holliday returned from the disabled list this week after being sidelined 41 days with a right quadriceps strain, and Matheny had planned to run for him.

Haren said hitting Holliday was accidental.

“Going inside on him is one of the only places I can go, and I just lost it,” Haren said. “The ball popped out my hand.”

Maddon was angry over what he claimed was retaliation by the Cardinals.

“There was no malicious intent on Dan Haren’s part,” Maddon said. “So to become this vigilante group that all off a sudden wants to get their own pound of flesh, that’s absolutely insane, ridiculous and wrong. … And furthermore, we won’t start stuff, but we will end stuff.”

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MIDWAY MATCHUP

The Cardinals and Cubs continue a three-game series at Wrigley Field after Chicago took the opener Friday. Starlin Castro homered twice and tied his career high with six RBIs in that one. The middle infielder has been outstanding at the plate of late, hitting .417 with power over his last 11 games. St. Louis will try to stave off the hard-charging Cubbies with ace Michael Wacha (16-5, 2.96 ERA). The Cardinals hope to get back slugger Matt Holliday, who exited Friday after being hit in the head by a fastball from Dan Haren.

ROOKIE ON THE RAILS

The Mets send their second straight rookie to the mound in the Subway Series against their pinstriped rival. Noah Syndergaard is 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 10 starts at Citi Field. Michael Pineda is set to start for the Yankees. He has struggled in four starts since returning from the DL, going 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA.

BACK IN ACTION

Howie Kendrick returned from the DL on Friday, just in time to help the Dodgers in a possible postseason-preview series against the Pirates. The infielder had missed 34 games with a strained left hamstring, but was batting .296 prior to the injury. Clayton Kershaw (14-6, 2.12) goes for the Dodgers, while Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.45) will pitch for the Pirates.

SO WE MEET AGAIN, FRIEND

Houston’s Scott Kazmir and Oakland’s Sonny Gray are former teammates, good pals and both pitchers with sub-3 ERAs, and they face off for the second time since Kazmir (7-10, 2.63) was traded to the Astros over the summer. Gray (13-7, 2.56) won the first showdown, tossing seven innings in a 4-0 A’s victory. Kazmir is 2-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 10 starts since being acquired for a pair of minor leaguers.

JORDAN RULES?

Nationals righty Jordan Zimmermann looks to improve 5-0 over his last seven starts and help keep Washington’s flickering playoff hopes alive in the third of a four-game home set against the Marlins. Miami sends out lefty Justin Nicolino (3-3, 3.81).

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