Lester Helps Cubs To 6th Straight Win, Beats Cole, Pirates
CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester outpitched Gerrit Cole with seven gutsy innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, on Saturday for their sixth straight win.
Kris Bryant went 2 for 2 with two walks and scored twice as the Cubs moved six games over .500 for the first time since they were 83-77 on Oct. 3, 2009, according to STATS. It is the longest win streak for Chicago since a seven-game run in 2011.
Lester (4-2) allowed one run and nine hits in his fourth consecutive win. The left-hander struck out seven, running his career total to 1,504 Ks, and walked one before a season-high crowd of 38,883 at Wrigley Field.
Sean Rodriguez homered for Pittsburgh, which has dropped four in a row. Starling Marte and Jung Ho Kang had three hits apiece.
Cole (5-2) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. He began the day with a 6-0 record and a 2.92 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.
The Pirates had at least one hit in Lester's last six innings, but Rodriguez's second homer on the first pitch of the third was all the scoring they could manage.
With two on, two outs and Chicago clinging to a 2-1 lead in the seventh, Lester was visited by manager Joe Maddon and a trainer with an 0-2 count on Andrew McCutchen. After a short conversation, Lester stayed in, drawing a big cheer from the fans.
Lester then struck out the 2013 NL MVP, prompting another loud ovation on a picturesque day. The pitcher pumped his left arm and yelled as he walked to the dugout after his final batter.
The Cubs (21-15) tacked on two more runs in the bottom half. Dexter Fowler scampered home on a wild pitch by Arquimedes Caminero, and Anthony Rizzo had a sacrifice fly.
Phil Coke and Jason Motte combined to wriggle out of a jam in the eighth, and Travis Wood finished for his first career save. Wood, Chicago's fifth starter, was pressed into duty after the Cubs used seven relievers in Friday's 11-10 victory over the Pirates.
Cole struck out eight and walked one. The right-hander had gone 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA in six starts since he got a no-decision in his first game of the year against Cincinnati.
After Rodriguez's homer tied it at 1, Starlin Castro drove in Bryant with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third. Castro also drove in Bryant with a sacrifice fly in the first.
The Pirates (17-20) put two runners on with one out in the fourth and fifth innings, but Lester escaped each time. He also retired three in a row after Marte's leadoff double in the sixth.
Second baseman Addison Russell robbed Neil Walker with a terrific leaping grab for a big out in the fifth. Russell's play in shallow center with runners on first and second prompted Lester to clap into his glove in appreciation.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Brandon Cumpton was transferred to the 60-day disabled list when RHP Wilfredo Boscan was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game. The Pirates also optioned infielder Steve Lombardozzi to their top minor league affiliate. Cumpton had Tommy John surgery in March.
Cubs: LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (mild left groin strain) is at the very end of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa. "We've been discussing it," Maddon said. "I know he's been doing really well." ... RHP Neil Ramirez (shoulder inflammation) is throwing bullpen sessions. "Nothing spectacular. Nothing awful," Maddon said. "Pretty much status quo."
UP NEXT
Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (2-1, 1.60 ERA) and Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (4-3, 3.00 ERA) meet in the finale of the weekend series. Burnett has allowed two runs or less in each of his seven starts this year. Arrieta pitched eight innings in a 6-1 victory over the New York Mets in his previous start on Tuesday.
(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
