Cubs rout St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — Michael Wacha was a 17-game winner last year and a breakout star as a rookie in 2013. But right now, the St. Louis Cardinals pitcher has trouble getting anybody out.

Wacha (2-5) blamed continuing mechanical difficulties after surrendering a career-worst eight runs in four innings of a 12-3 blowout loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

“I feel like I’m on time for an inning, two innings, and then, you know, something gets out of whack,” the 24-year-old righthander said. “I don’t know if I’m trying too hard.”

Physically, Wacha said there are no issues. “I feel strong, I feel good, the arm feels great and the body feels good,” he said.

Wacha has lost five consecutive decisions for the first time. The former NL championship series MVP has a 5.04 ERA.

Manager Mike Matheny has no intention of taking Wacha out of the rotation. He thought a stretch of three scoreless innings in the second, third and fourth was a good sign, although there were three walks in that span.

The Cubs knocked him out in the fifth when Ben Zobrist led off a double and Jorge Soler followed with a home run.

“I think he found something today, until he got tired,” Matheny said. “He rolled there for a few innings. Different swings. You could see he was getting swings and misses.”

Among the mistakes Wacha made in the first was giving up a two-run double to Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel, who also worked 7¥ stingy innings.

Wacha had no losing streak longer than three games prior to this season. In his last three outings, he has allowed 20 runs, 16 earned, in 12 innings with all three lasting four innings.

The last Cardinals pitcher to allow six or more runs in three consecutive starts was Mike Maroth from July 14-Aug. 1, 2007. The last St. Louis pitcher to lose five straight decisions was Joel Piniero from May 24-June 18, 2009.

The six-run inning was a season-best for the NL Central leaders, who snapped their first threegame losing streak of the season. David Ross had an RBI double for his 500th career hit and Kris Bryant had an RBI single.

Hammel (6-1) bounced back from his first loss in his previous start, allowing one run on four hits and retiring the side in order five times.

Pinch hitters Tim Fedorowicz and Matt Szcur had an RBI apiece in a four-run ninth off Dean Kiekhefer.