Lester Leads Cubs Past Dodgers, 2-1
CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game of the season, helping the Chicago Cubs edge the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, on Wednesday despite another lackluster night at the plate.
The Cubs finished with just three hits against Mike Bolsinger and two relievers after they managed only one in Tuesday night's 5-0 loss to Los Angeles. But one of Chicago's hits was a long, two-run homer to center field by Kris Bryant in the third inning, and Lester (6-3) took over from there.
The left-hander struck out 10 and walked none in his second straight win, settling down quite nicely after Kike Hernandez's leadoff homer on his second pitch. He retired his last 15 batters and threw 113 pitches in his 13th career complete game and first since a 2-1 win at Pittsburgh on Sept. 15.
With two relievers standing on the mound in the bullpen, Lester retired Justin Turner and Corey Seager on grounders to shortstop before Howie Kendrick struck out swinging for the final out.
Bolsinger (1-2) fanned six in five innings. Pedro Baez followed with two hitless innings for Los Angeles, and Casey Fien allowed Jason Heyward's two-out single in the eighth before whiffing Bryant for the last out of the inning.
One mistake in the third was enough to drop the Dodgers to 3-3 on their seven-game trip.
Dexter Fowler reached on a leadoff walk and Heyward lined out to right before Bryant drove a 1-0 pitch to the bushes in center for his team-best 12th homer, snapping a tie with Anthony Rizzo.
The major league-leading Cubs (36-15) won for the seventh time in eight games and improved to 5-1 on their 10-game homestand.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.