Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press…

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Willson Contreras connected twice for his first career multi-homer game, Eddie Butler threw six scoreless innings in his season debut and the Chicago Cubs beat St. Louis 3-2 Friday, ending the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak. Butler, who pitched the last three seasons with Colorado and was traded to the Cubs before spring training, gave up two hits. He struck out five and walked three.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Hosmer delivered another key hit, doubling home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and giving the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles Friday night. Lorenzo Cain singled with one out and Hosmer doubled to right-center field off Vidal Nuno.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s depleted receiving corps lost another player Friday, when the Hawkeyes announced that Jerminic Smith has left the program. Smith caught 23 passes for 314 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2016 for Iowa. But Smith was suspended for spring workouts because of academics.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kyle Busch picked up right where he left off in the Truck Series at Kansas Speedway. Only three years had passed. Busch hopped into the Number 51 Toyota of his own Kyle Busch Motorsports and roared to the front early Friday night, winning the first two stages before taking advantage of leader Ben Rhodes’s engine trouble in the closing laps.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Ryan Blaney earned his first career pole for the NASCAR Cup race at Kansas Speedway, taking advantage of a traffic jam at inspection that kept 11 cars from getting on the track. Among those who failed to get through Friday were Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne.