Cubs 3, Cardinals 0: Chris Rusin pitched six scoreless innings and visiting Chicago handed St. Louis its third consecutive defeat.

Junior Lake snapped a scoreless deadlock with an RBI single in the seventh and Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single later in the inning to lift the Cubs to only their third win in the last 12 games.

Rusin (2-1), making his fifth start of the season, allowed seven hits, struck out five and had to escape a couple of jams. Three relievers bridged the gap to closer Kevin Gregg, who worked around a two-out walk for his 24th save.

Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn (13-6) yielded three runs on only three hits but walked five in 6 2/3 innings to lose for only the second time in 10 home decisions. Jon Jay went 3-for-4 and Matt Holliday had two hits for St. Louis, which remained four games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the National League Central.

Lynn found trouble in the seventh by issuing a pair of walks before Lake singled up the middle to plate Welington Castillo with the game's first run. Lynn hit Cole Gillespie to load the bases and was replaced by Randy Choate, who was greeted by Rizzo's two-run single for a 3-0 edge.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rusin became the first Cubs LHP to toss at least six scoreless innings against St. Louis since 1979. ... Cardinals pinch hitter Daniel Descalso and manager Mike Matheny were ejected in the ninth for arguing balls and strikes after Descalso struck out. ... The Cubs decided against a stint on the disabled list for backup C Dioner Navarro, who suffered a mild right ankle sprain in a collision with Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley at home plate in Wednesday's game.