STARLIN ROLE

Castro teams up with Hicks, Gardner to blast Bombers to win in Chi-town

CHICAGO — They ripped the Cubs’ heart out with Brett Gardner’s biceps Friday. Saturday, they gouged the defending World Series champs’ scalps with ice picks disguised as bats.

So what do the Yankees have for long-time nemesis and Cubs starter Jon Lester on Sunday evening in front of a national television audience?

While it’s difficult to see the Yankees spanking Lester the way they did fellow lefty Brett Anderson on the way to an 11-6 victory in front of 40,735 muted customers at Wrigley Field Saturday night, the Yankees have clearly been the better team through the first two tilts of a three-game series versus the defending World Series title holders.

“It’s awesome, it’s good to come here and compete against a really good team,’’ said former Cub Starlin Castro, who went 3for-4 with a two-run homer and is batting .381 after entering the night with an AL-best average of .367. “They are the World Series (winners). It tells us how good we can be and how good we are.’’

Backed by a five-run first inning assault against Anderson led by doubles from Brett Gardner, Castro and Chase Headley, rookie lefty Jordan Montgomery cruised to a win that upped his record to 2-1.

Aaron Hicks went 4-for-5 and hit a three-run homer (his sixth) in the eighth.

Handling Lester won’t be easy since he is 13-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 29 games against them with the Red Sox. Lester, who is 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA this year, last saw the Yankees on June 28, 2014 when he allowed an unearned run in eight innings.

Yet, the 19-9 Yankees were blanked for eight frames Friday before Gardner’s three-run homer in the ninth stole a win.

Luis Severino will oppose Lester in his first-ever start against the Cubs in his short career.

The AL East-leading Yankees’ fourth straight victory enabled them to at least win two of three from the Cubs and it is their fourth consecutive series victory. The Yankees took two of three from the Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays before winning the first two games against the Cubs.

Montgomery, who hadn’t won since April 17 (two starts), worked a season-high 6 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs (two earned) and two hits. Montgomery’s 100 pitches were his most in five big league starts.

“You still need to throw. You don’t want to get too relaxed,’’ said Montgomery, who wasn’t smothered by Wrigley’s history or the Cubs’ loaded lineup. “Those guys can put big numbers if you put it down the middle.’’

Anderson, who left the game in the first inning with back spasms, gave up five runs and five hits and is 2-2.

“You never know where the offense is going to come but you feel it’s going to come from some spot in the order because these guys have been so spread out,’’ Joe Girardi said of his lineup that produced 14 hits and went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position. “Tonight it was Hicks and Castro, really big nights.’’