ST. LOUIS (AP) — Junior Lake homered, doubled twice and drove in six runs as the Chicago Cubs broke loose, routing St. Louis 17-5 Monday night and forcing the Cardinals to finish with infielder Daniel Descalso as a relief pitcher. The Cubs had totaled just four runs while getting swept in a three-game series at Atlanta over the weekend, and had lost seven of eight overall. Chicago has the worst record in the league at 13-24, but is 4-3 against the defending NL champions.

The Cubs hit for the cycle in the first five batters — Emilio Bonifacio doubled, Anthony Rizzo singled, Starlin Castro tripled and Mike Olt’s two-run homer capped a four-run first inning. Bonifacio had four of Chicago’s 20 hits and scored five runs, once on a play overturned by video review.

Descalso made his first pro pitching appearance and retired the only batter he faced, getting Olt on a fly ball.