Chicago Cubs offense comes alive in 12-3 win over the Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs finally found the offense they were missing as they rolled over the St. Louis Cardinals with a 12-3 victory behind Jason Hammel.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

The

Chicago Cubs

got off to an early start against the St. Louis Cardinals and never let up as they rolled to a 12-3 victory. Cards’ starter

lasted four innings but surrendered eight runs, six in the first. The Cardinals added a few late runs, but Jason Hammel took care of business as he pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run baseball.

The Cubs (30-14) had all the answers, and leadoff man Dexter Fowler had three hits to help pace the offense. Jorge Soler continued his mini-resurgence with two hits and three RBIs including a two-run home run. The early offense was more than enough for Hammel (7-1, 2.17) who allowed just four hits and struck out four was never in any real danger throughout the night.

For Wacha (2-5, 5.04) his downward spiral this season continued and it didn’t take long for it to happen. The Cubs scored six in the first, four with two out as Wacha had no command of his secondary pitches. Hammel helped his own cause with a two-run double.

The Cardinals (24-22) couldn’t carry the momentum of yesterday’s walk-off home run from Randall Grichuk into tonight’s contest. The Cards added three runs after Hammel’s departure with an RBI double in the eighth, and then pushed two more across in the ninth off of Clayton Richard before Trevor Cahill was able to close things out.

The Cubs will look for the series win tomorrow in a 12:45 p.m. CT start as Jake Arrieta (8-0, 1.29) will take his league-best ERA up against Carlos Martinez (4-4, 3.46).