Simon. "He was just a perfect professional in my op

ST. LOUIS -- Travis Wood made a beeline for fellow pitcher Jeff Samardzijas locker. He wanted to apologize for all of that run support. "I instantly came in here and gave him a hug and said sorry," the lefty said after the Chicago Cubs got six RBIs from Junior Lake in a 17-5 rout over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night. "The offence played great, they brought their A game." Samardzija has a 1.45 ERA, but is 0-3. The Cubs have totalled 15 runs in his eight starts. Lake homered and doubled twice for Chicago, which had lost seven of eight overall. The Cubs totalled just four runs while getting swept in a three-game series at Atlanta over the weekend -- Emilio Bonifacio scored five times himself in this romp. "Thats what we needed," Lake said. "Just play hard and something happened good." Chicago has the worst record in the league at 13-24, but is 4-3 against the defending NL champions. The Cardinals were forced to finish with infielder Daniel Descalso as a relief pitcher getting the final out in the ninth. Its the first time St. Louis used a position player to pitch since Rob Johnson against the Dodgers in a 13-4 loss at home Aug. 7. "Its embarrassing to have to put him into that spot," manager Mike Matheny said. "Hes a team guy and understands, but should have never been in that spot to begin with." "Its tough for all of us to watch." The Cubs hit for the cycle in the first five batters -- Bonifacio doubled, Anthony Rizzo singled, Starlin Castro tripled and Mike Olts two-run homer capped a four-run first inning. Bonifacio had four of Chicagos 20 hits and scored a career-best five times -- the most in the majors this season -- once on a play overturned by video review. Rizzo and Castro each drove in three as the Cubs set season highs for runs and hits. Cardinals reliever Randy Choate gave up a career-worst six runs in the ninth and left with two outs. Descalso made his first pro pitching appearance and retired the only batter he faced, getting Olt on a fly ball. "I just went out there and did what they asked me to do," Descalso said. "I really dont want to talk about this." Wood (3-4) beat St. Louis for the second time in three starts despite giving up five runs in six innings. He hit two batters in the fifth and both scored. Tyler Lyons (0-3) surrendered nine runs in four innings in his fourth start in place of injured Joe Kelly. "I felt a lot better the first two innings than I did in the third and fourth," Lyons said. "Its just one of those things. Sometimes you just get hit, I guess." Allen Craig drove in two runs for the Cardinals. Yadier Molina had two hits, an RBI and a steal when he caught Wood napping in the fifth and took third without a throw. Lake hit a three-run homer in the second for a 7-0 lead. He had an RBI double in the fourth and a two-run double in the ninth. Lake began the game with eight RBIs in 92 at-bats this season. Three of his four homers have come against the Cardinals. "Hes electric, for sure," Wood said. "When hes on, hes on. Hes got tremendous pop and nice to see it come out." Olt leads NL with eight homers, including four in the last six games, all on the road. In the fourth, Bonifacio was called out at the plate when he tried to score on Rizzos grounder to short with the infield in. The Cubs challenged the call, and the ruled was reversed. NOTES: The Cubs previous bests for runs and hits came at Comiskey Park on Thursday when they scored 12 runs on 15 hits against the White Sox. ... Bonifacio is the first Cubs player to score five runs since Jody Davis in 1987. ... Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (6-2, 4.75) opposes Jake Arrieta (0-0, 2.89) in the second game of a four-game set. Wainwright is 9-7 for his career against Chicago but just 3-6 with a 4.83 ERA at home, and is coming off his first career loss at Wrigley Field on May 2. ... Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia, rehabbing from shoulder surgery, allowed two runs on three hits in five innings for Triple-A Memphis. Nick Anderson Rays Jersey . The 30-year-old Moore played in 13 games for the Saints last season, catching 37 balls for 457 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay Rays Gear . - The Baltimore Ravens have hired Steve Spagnuolo to be their secondary coach and assistant head coach. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/1366i-austin-pruitt-jersey-rays.html .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. Brent Honeywell Jersey . The 57-year-old Tietjens has coached New Zealand to nine IRB World Sevens titles and to four Commonwealth Games gold medals as its only coach in the professional era. New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said the re-signing was made with a focus on 2016 when sevens will be in the Olympics. Guillermo Heredia Rays Jersey . -- Terrelle Pryor took the opening snap of the game, put the ball in Darren McFaddens belly and saw LaMarr Woodley crash down.Geroy Simon is leaving the CFL a changed man. In 1999, he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers feeling individual success would get him back into the NFL. On Wednesday, Simon retired as the most prolific receiver in CFL history, but he says the three Grey Cup championship titles he shared with his teammates are the crowning achievements of his illustrious 15-year CFL career. "Hands down, those are the three most important times in my career and my most cherished accomplishments," Simon said. "When I first got here, winning wasnt that important to me, it was my individual success. "I think the maturity of being here and evolving as a person, as a player with a few great organizations switched my thinking to where it stopped being about my individual success as opposed to winning games and winning Grey Cups." Simon, 38, twice played for teams that won Grey Cups at home -- the 2011 B.C. Lions and last year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. "Its an amazing feeling to win a Grey Cup at a neutral site," Simon said. "But to win at home twice, not too many people can come close to that. "I feel very privileged to have done it." Then again, being the most prolific receiver in CFL history isnt shabby, either. "No, not at all," Simon said with a chuckle. "Thats a close second." Simon shouldnt be out of football long. Hes talking with the Riders about a front-office job as a club ambassador. The six-foot, 198-pound Simon accumulated 1,029 career catches for 16,352 yards and 103 TDs with Winnipeg (1999-2000), B.C. (01-12) and Saskatchewan (2013). He was the CFLs outstanding player in 06 with 105 catches for 1,856 yards and 15 TDs, capping that campaign with his first Grey Cup title. Simon, who spent part of the 97 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice roster, spent two seasons with Winnipeg before signing as a free agent with B.C. It was with the Lions that Simon -- nicknamed Superman for the pose hed strike after scoring TDs -- became a CFL star. But the Lions dealt Simon to Saskatchewan on Jan. 24, 2013 for receiver Justin Harper and a 2014 third-round pick. After missing the Riders first three regular-season games due to injury, Simon finished with 40 catches for 565 yards and three TDs and surpassed Ben Cahoon (1,017) as the CFLs all-time receptions leader. Simon ended the season -- and ultimately his career -- scoring two TDs in Saskatchewans 45-23 Grey Cup win over Hamilton at Mosaic Stadium. However, that Grey Cup win was much different than Simons first two. With B.C., he was a focal point of the offence whereas with Saskatchewan he was a mentor for the youthful Riders. "I still believe I made a huge contribution (with Riders) but it wasnt stats," Simon said. "It was more in the background, in the locker-room helping mentor guys, helping them get to the right spots and get better. "You cant measure those by stats. But to have the opportunity to catch two touchdown passes and win the game in that manner, it was really special to me." Simon was prepared to return for a 16th season before noticing some subtle hints it was time to retire. "Even though I wanted to play, my preparation was quite different than any other year because I was busy doing many other things," Simon said. "Id miss a worrkout here and there and thered be times where instead of going my normal two hours in the gym Id go for an hour.dddddddddddd It was just different. "Now, I wouldve been able to get to training camp and play at a high level, but I think karma has a way of working its way out. Things happen for a reason and I think I was just prepared physically and mentally to move on." Simon finalized the decision to retire about two weeks ago while visiting Rome with his wife. "We talked and I said, Maybe its just time to move on," he said. "She was more concerned than I was. "I didnt want to get to a certain point where I tarnished my legacy on the field with mediocre play or frustration at the end of my career because that would leave a sour taste in my mouth. I left a place that was so good to me for a number of years and went somewhere that was a heated rival. To win a Grey Cup in that place, I felt vindicated, like my career had come full circle and it was time." Simon admitted leaving B.C. was difficult. He and the Lions had mutually agreed to the trade to Saskatchewan after the Lions indicated Simons role would change in 2013. However, Simon said his longtime association with B.C. GM Wally Buono made his transition easier. "In the end its all about business," Simon said. "The B.C. Lions made a business decision so I had to do that for my business, the Simon business. "It was easy for me to move on because I didnt take it personally. I learned from the best in Wally. He takes all the emotion out of it, thats a learned skill. I was around him enough to know its not personal, its just business." B.C. defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington applauded his former teammate deciding to retire on top. "Very proud, very proud of him," Washington said. "A kid from Johnstown, Pa., goes to the University of Maryland and now is the all-time leading everything in the CFL when it comes to receiving. "He had an awesome career -- a storybook-type career. For him to go out as a champion, its fitting." Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips also paid tribute to Simon. "He was just a perfect professional in my opinion," Phillips said. "He taught me the ropes and helped me become a better DB. "Hes definitely a true Hall of Famer in every aspect, not just football-wise, but as a person. Its sad to see him go because of how much he brought to the game and how much he brought to the CFL. He went out in the right fashion." Simon will be eligible for selection into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2017. So will former Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who retired earlier this off-season as pro footballs all-time passing leader. It would only be fitting if the CFLs all-time leading passer and top receiver were inducted together. "Thats actually awesome, I never thought about that," Simon said. "Anthony Calvillo is a legend in this league, a great example not only for myself but also younger players in this league to aspire to be. "He was a consummate professional throughout his career. Hed be very deserving of going into the Hall of Fame and if we have that opportunity to go together, Id definitely be honoured." --- With files from CP reporter Joshua Clipperton in Vancouver. ' ' '