CUBS 5, PADRES 1 STRONG LESTER GIVES BULLPEN SOME RELIEF
CUBS 5, PADRES 1 Sharp outing gives pen a break; Russell, Bryant, Heyward hit home runs
SAN DIEGO — This is how good the Cubs have had it over the last two seasons when it comes to their pitching:
When John Lackey ( shoulder) went on the disabled list Friday, it marked the first time since 2014 that a member of the opening rotation has been sidelined. That’s almost unheard of. It’s also the biggest reason for the team’s 175- 110 record (. 614) over that span.
Which brings us to now. As in now what?
Jon Lester may have shown at least a glimpse of the answer Monday night, when he pitched into the seventh inning against San Diego, striking out eight in six- plus innings to beat the Padres 5- 1.
As the Cubs face their highest degree of pitching adversity of the season — with top setup relievers Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop also on the DL — the recipe for bridging the deficit looked simple enough Monday night.
They got three home runs — by Addison Russell, Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant — and more of the same from the best starting rotation in the majors.
“The attempt now is to win games while balancing out the bullpen and even beyond that, primarily not to abuse your starters,” manager Joe Maddon said.
“Those guys are the thoroughbreds, man,” he added. “You don’t have those fellows, you ain’t doing nothing. That will put too much stress on a bullpen. So you watch your pitching very closely”
Lester ( 14- 4) allowed just two singles and two walks in six scoreless innings until giving up a pair of singles to the final two batters he faced in the seventh.
Justin Grimm, who hasn’t been charged with a run in 17 consecutive appearances, got a brokenbat grounder for one out in relief of Lester, then struck out three straight — a run scoring when a nasty curve ball skipped past catcher David Ross for a wild pitch.
As the Cubs continue their grueling three- city, nine- game test out west with stops this week in San Diego and Los Angeles, they have the luxury of a 12 ½ - game division lead over the Cardinals after Monday’s victory.
But that doesn’t eliminate the challenge Maddon faces keeping his compromised pitching staff overworked before reinforcements arrive with the expanded roster in September and returns from the DL.
“Just like that early [ 10- game] East Coast trip we had, this threecity tour going west is always a tough trip,” pitching coach Chris Bosio said, “especially when you don’t have your horses on your pitching staff. So everybody’s got to do their part because they’re going to get their opportunities.”
Lackey’s absence from the rotation might impact the bullpen more than the potential loss of any of the other starters, because he leads the staff ( and is fourth in the National League) in innings pitched.
The depleted bullpen already blew a 5- 1 lead in the late innings of the opener in Colorado on Friday. The Cubs went on to lose the series.
Rookies Felix Pena and Rob Zastryzny actually looked good in their big- league debuts, covering for the lost veteran innings.
“We’ll find out what we have with the younger guys,” Bosio said. “They’re going to pitch. Because they have to, until we’re able to get our guys healthy again.”
Heavily used left- hander Travis Wood took the brunt of the damage Friday in his 61st appearance of the season, one off the league lead.
“The only guy that I think that I push a little too hard is Travis,” Maddon said. “The other guys are in really good shape, with number of pitches, number of innings.”