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.
ROTATION MOVES
Julio Urias will make his second start for Los Angeles in the finale of the four-game series on Thursday, giving Kenta Maeda an extra day of rest. The 19-year-old Urias, one of baseball's top prospects, made his major league debut Friday at the New York Mets and allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Maeda is being treated for swelling in his right hand after it was hit by a line drive in his most recent outing, but thinks he should be ready to start Friday against Atlanta.
"My hand feels good," Maeda said through a translator. "It was a decision that the coaches made, to give me one more day."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Yasiel Puig (left hamstring) was held out of the lineup for a second straight day and flied out as a pinch hitter in the eighth. "It really just didn't loosen up and I didn't want to put him in harm's way," manager Dave Roberts said. ... LHP Alex Wood got an MRI that showed an elbow impingement requiring approximately four weeks of rest. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.
Cubs: RHP Jason Hammel, who left his previous start with right hamstring cramping, threw a side session and remains on track to start Saturday against Arizona. ... C/OF Kyle Schwarber was checked out in Dallas on Tuesday, and general manager Jed Hoyer said the reports were really good. "I think he's progressing really nicely," Hoyer said. Schwarber had reconstructive left knee surgery in April.
UP NEXT
RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 2.93 ERA) starts for Chicago on Thursday against Urias (0-0, 10.13 ERA). Hendricks pitched a five-hitter in a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday.
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