Cubs Rip Reds 9-2 For Best Start Since 1985
CHICAGO (AP) — John Lackey pitched into the seventh inning, Kris Bryant hit his first homer of the season and the Chicago Cubs matched the best eight-game start in franchise history with a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
Miguel Montero had two of Chicago's 10 walks and scored three times as the Cubs improved to 7-1 for the first time since 1985 and just the 11th time overall. Jason Heyward drove in two runs with a two-out single in the third and robbed Scott Schebler of a hit with a diving grab in right-center in the fourth.
Lackey (2-0) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first start at Wrigley Field since he signed a $32 million, two-year deal with Chicago in free agency over the winter. He struck out seven and walked three, rebounding nicely from a shaky start at Arizona last Thursday.
The last time the right-hander took the mound at the Cubs' longtime home, he lasted just three innings in the Cardinals' 6-4 loss in the clinching Game 4 of the NL Division Series in October.
Lackey also contributed at the plate, chasing Alfredo Simon with a two-out RBI single in Chicago's five-run first. Jorge Soler had a sacrifice fly and Addison Russell singled home a run before Lackey drove in Montero with a grounder into right field.
Simon (0-1) allowed five runs and four hits in the shortest start of his career. His previous worst was four outs for Baltimore at Texas on April 14, 2009.
Jay Bruce and Ivan De Jesus each drove in a run for Cincinnati, which used five relievers. Eugenio Suarez had two hits.
Chicago had a 7-1 lead in the fourth when Bryant lined a 2-0 pitch from Keyvius Sampson over the wall in left for a solo shot. Bryant hit 26 homers last season when he was the unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco (right hip tightness) and SS Zack Cozart (quadriceps) were out of the starting lineup. Manager Bryan Price said they got "a little banged up" in Monday's loss to the Cubs. ... Price said it looks as if RHP Jon Moscot (strained intercostal muscle) will be ready to pitch Sunday in St. Louis. He allowed five runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. ... RHP Anthony DeSclafani (strained oblique) threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session.
Cubs: INF Javier Baez (left thumb contusion) went 1 for 4 and scored a run in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa. He could rejoin the team by the end of the week. "He's getting close," manager Joe Maddon said. "We just want to make sure that he's well, that he feels good at the plate, that he's seeing the ball well." ... Maddon said Wrigley Field's new home clubhouse makes it easier for C-OF Kyle Schwarber to stay around the team while he recovers from his season-ending left leg injury. "Why is this facility so important? This is a perfect example of why," he said. Maddon had no update when asked about a date for Schwarber's surgery.
UP NEXT
Reds right-hander Raisel Iglesias (1-0, 2.31 ERA) and Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel (0-0, 1.50 ERA) are scheduled to pitch in the series finale on Thursday night. Iglesias got the win his last time out, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings in a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh. Hammel is making his second start of the year after pitching six innings of one-run ball in a no-decision at Arizona on Friday.
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