CHICAGO -- Michael Busch and the Chicago Cubs turned their holiday into a home run. Eight of them, to be exact. Busch hit three longballs, Pete Crow-Armstrong connected twice and the Cubs went deep a franchise-record eight times to hammer the St. Louis Cardinals 11-3 on Friday for their fourth straight victory.

The Cubs set a franchise record with eight home runs in an 11-3 rout of the Reds on Friday, including three from first baseman Michael Busch.

An update to the previous announcement,” a Cubs official said into the press box microphone. “Michael Busch’s home run now represents the 26th time this has happened.” Such was the nature of Friday’s 4th of July game between the Cubs and the St.

Chicago is at the top of the division at 52-35 while St. Louis is 5.5 games back and in third at 47-41. Last week these teams met in St. Louis for a four-game series that they split, with the Cardinals winning the first two games and the Cubs winning the last two. When: Friday, July 4 at 2:20 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs set a franchise record by bashing eight home runs in a single game on their way to an Independence Day annihilation of the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, winning 11-3 on Friday. Michael Busch enjoyed his first career three-homer game,