The Cubs used an unorthodox method to spark their offense Thursday night in Tampa Bay.

With two runners on base and no outs in the 5th, the Cubs bunted three straight times, leading to 2 runs and a lead against the Rays.

The Cubs opened the frame with back-to-back singles from Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner. With slugger Patrick Wisdom up to the plate, it looked like a big inning was possible. Instead, the righty laid down a bunt to the right side, moving Hoerner and Busch to scoring position.

Pete Crow-Armstrong laid down a bunt to third baseman Isaac Paredes who went home with his throw, but Busch beat the throw and Crow-Armstrong reached safely. Catcher Yan Gomes capped it off with a bunt in front of the plate that scored Hoerner.

It was an unexpected way to jump-start the Cubs offense. It’s been well documented how manager Craig Counsell isn’t the biggest fan of the bunt. But with the offense scuffling of late, the Cubs thought outside of the box to inject some life into the game.

Wednesday night, Counsell shook up his lineup and had Christopher Morel lead off for the first time this season, Busch hit second and Seiya Suzuki was in the cleanup spot. Thursday night, Counsell returned Mike Tauchman to the top of his batting order, Morel hit second, Suzuki was cleanup again and Busch hit fifth.

Entering Thursday night, the Cubs had scored the fourth-fewest runs since May 1, ahead of only Atlanta, Miami and the White Sox.