Cubs 9, Cardinals 0
ST. LOUIS -- Dexter Fowler set the tone for the Chicago Cubs' beat down of the St. Louis Cardinals from his first at-bat.
Fowler lined a leadoff homer to start a 12-hit explosion, then added a two-run double an inning later as Chicago routed St. Louis 9-0 Monday at sold-out Busch Stadium.
With center fielder Fowler leading the charge, the Cubs (79-57) knocked Cardinals starter Lance Lynn (11-9) out of the box before the third inning was over, raking him for seven hits and six runs in 2 1/3 innings. Lynn walked two and fanned two in his first start since an ankle injury Aug. 29 in San Francisco.
Shortstop Addison Russell capped a five-run third inning with a three-run homer to left-center off reliever Seth Maness, giving Chicago an 8-0 lead. First baseman Anthony Rizzo's RBI double and a run-scoring single by catcher Miguel Montero preceded Russell's blast.
Pitcher Dan Haren capped the scoring with a one-out sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Given a big early lead, Haren (9-9) sailed through seven scoreless innings, scattering seven hits and walking two while fanning five. Relievers Carl Edwards and Zac Rosscup polished off St. Louis' worst home loss of the year.
Despite the outcome, the Cardinals (87-50) maintained their 5 1/2-game lead in the National League Central over second-place Pittsburgh, which lost 3-1 in Cincinnati. The Cubs moved within 7 1/2 games of St. Louis and closed within two of the Pirates for the first wild-card spot, which would carry with it a home game on Oct. 7.
The Cardinals recognized this game as a lost cause quickly, pulling All-Star catcher Yadier Molina in the fifth inning and lifting most of their starters later. Chicago rested most of its starters for the last two innings.
NOTES: Chicago recalled RHP Carl Edwards and LHP Zac Rosscup from Triple-A Iowa to beef up its bullpen. Edwards is 5-3 with a 2.74 ERA and six saves between Iowa and Double-A Tennessee, while Rosscup is 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 27 games with the Cubs. ... St. Louis RHP Adam Wainwright (Achilles) threw a light bullpen session Monday as he continues his rehab from an injury that occurred April 25 in Milwaukee. Odds are still against Wainwright returning before season's end. ... Chicago C Kyle Schwarber (right rib cage strain) missed his fifth straight game Monday and might not return until the Cubs hit Philadelphia on Thursday night. ... Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong (calf tightness) was a late scratch. Matt Carpenter moved from third to second, with Mark Reynolds getting the start at third.