Kris Bryant hits tying RBI, scores go-ahead run in return to lineup

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryantreturned to the lineup for Saturday's 3-2 victoryover the St. Louis Cardinals after sitting out Friday with a sprained left pinkie finger.

Batting second in the lineup, Bryant finished 2-for-4, including a game-tying, broken-bat RBI single in the eighth. He went on to score the go-ahead run from first base on Anthony Rizzo's bloop double on a 3-2 pitch, capping a three-run rally in the inning.

"KB being able to play was the difference in today's game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The combination of the hit and his speed, I don't think anybody else scores on that. Maybe Jason [Heyward], possibly. [Ian Happ], possibly. But KB is such a good baserunner. He had it in his head the moment the ball was hit."

Statcast showed Rizzo's hit landed 252 feet from the plate; it was 270 feet from first to home for Bryant, who ran hard the whole way and slid home feet first as catcher Yadier Molina couldn't control center fielder Dexter Fowler's one-hop throw.

"Full count, I got a head start, so that was huge," Bryant said. "You've got to give [Rizzo] a ton of credit. He worked a great at-bat. Something I take pride in is my baserunning and surprising people."

Bryant sprained his finger on a headfirst slide in the first inning Wednesday against Atlanta. X-rays were negative, but Bryant had been experiencing soreness, and there was some concern about how well he could grip a bat.

Maddon initially expressed doubt about Bryant playing Saturday.

Bryant, 25, is hitting .278 with 19 homers and 41 RBIs in 89 games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.