FREE FALLIN’

Happ and Tony Kemp and a solo drive by rookie Nico Hoerner to carry an 8-7 lead into the ninth. It looked as if it was on its way to stopping a costly slide that pushed it out of playoff position — the Cubs began the day two games back of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.

But Kimbrel (0-4) was hit hard again in his first appearance since he gave up Matt Carpenter’s 10th-inning homer in the Cubs’ 5-4 loss Thursday night.

Molina jumped on Kimbrel’s first pitch for his ninth homer, touching off a rollicking celebration in the Cardinals’ dugout. Kimbrel looked stunned as the ball soared into the bleachers in left-center.

DeJong then belted an even deeper drive for his 28th homer, sending the party on the Cardinals’ half of the field to another level.

Signed in early June, Kimbrel has allowed a career-high nine home runs in only 20 2⁄ innings this year,

3 and has blown three of 16 save chances. He permitted seven home runs last season in 62 1⁄ innings with Bos

3 ton. John Gant (11-1) got the last out of the eighth for the win, and Carlos Martinez finished for his 23rd save. It’s the first three-game win streak for St. Louis at Wrigley Field since June 20-22, 2016.

Kris Bryant led off the Chicago ninth with a walk before Martinez retired three in a row. Manager Joe Maddon sent Javier Baez up to hit for Kimbrel with two out, but the All-Star slugger struck out swinging on three pitches in his first plate appearance since he broke his left thumb.

Ozuna’s two-run shot off Kyle Ryan gave St. Louis a 7-6 lead in the top half of the seventh, but Chicago rallied in the bottom half.

Pinch-hitting with Ben Zobrist on second after a one-out double, Kemp swung and missed at strike three, but Giovanny Gallegos was called for a balk. Given a second chance, Kemp hit a drive that drifted over the wall in center on a breezy afternoon.

The crowd of 40,071 roared as Kemp circled the bases with his first homer since he was acquired in a July 31 trade with Houston.