MLB: Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 2

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Kerry Wood recorded his 30th save in dramatic fashion Thursday, giving the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 victory over St. Louis.

The Cubs won for the third time in five outings after losing six in a row and expanded their lead over Milwaukee in the National League Central to 5 ½ games.

Light rain fell during the contest, which was scoreless until the Cubs loaded the bases in the fifth against Todd Wellemeyer (12-7).

Wellemeyer walked Ryan Theriot to force in the first run of the game and a ground out by Derrek Lee drove in another. Mike Fontenot doubled in a run in the sixth to make it 3-0.

St. Louis closed within one in its half of the sixth when Albert Pujols delivered an RBI double and came in on a single by Felipe Lopez.

Rich Harden (10-2) got the win, going six innings after missing a start to rest his tired arm.

Wood came on in the ninth and gave up a leadoff double to Brendan Ryan, but when Ryan tried to go to third on Cesar Izturis' bunt, Lee quickly fielded the ball at first and threw Ryan out. Skip Schumaker singled, putting runners on first and second, but Wood struck out Aaron Miles and got Pujols to pop out to second to end the game.