Lester can’t escape 1st as Pirates tally 10 runs
Hours after he left the shortest outing of his career Sunday, Jon Lester looked as stunned as when he walked off the mound.
Never in his 12- year career had the three-timeWorld Series champ and four- time All- Star failed to pitch at least four innings, let alone fail to get out of the first.
By the time Lester ( 5- 6) exited after only two outs, the Pirates had scored 10 times, handing theWorld Series champs a bitter end to a bitter first half with a 14- 3 rout.
“I don’t know what to say,” Lester said. “It’s embarrassing.
“There’s never a good time to have a bad start. The second pitch of the game I thought I threw well, and they hit a laser.’’
The Pirates had six hits off Lester and drew three walks, but two errors in the inning, by Kris Bryant at third andWillson Contreras behind the plate, were as damaging.
Lester was charged with four earned runs and allowed two homers ( Francisco Cervelli’s grand slam and AndrewMcCutchen’s solo shot). He ended a personal streak of 101 consecutive starts with at least one strikeout.
“Nothing I can say can justify or give you a reason behind today,” he said.
Manager JoeMaddon said it was “unbelievable” seeing Lester’s performance.
The game dropped the Cubs to 43- 45 going into the All- Star break, 5 ½ games behind the first- place Brewers and tied with the Cardinals for second.
Maddon tried to find silver linings in the performances of rookie catcher Victor Caratini ( doubled for first major- league hit; three hits overall), outfielder Albert Almora Jr. ( 2- for- 2) and relievers Mike Montgomery, Dylan Floro and Eddie Butler, who held the Pirates to four runs in 8⅓ innings.
“We’re not happy,” Maddon said of the first half more than the game. “Of course our guys are frustrated, but that’s normal human nature. But nobody’s quitting or giving up.
“We have to start getting better starting pitching and get our situational hitting back in order.”
The last time the Cubs gave up at least 10 runs in the first inning was Aug. 7, 1998, when they allowed 11 in St. Louis.
Montywill start second half
Montgomery will start Friday in Baltimore when the season resumes. The rest of the rotation will be determined after KyleHendricks pitches Monday for Class AA Tennessee in his rehab from tendinitis in his right hand.
Ross returns tofield
Retired catcher and former Cub David Ross announced he’ll play for the Kansas Stars, an independent team of former major- leaguers. They’ll being play in the National Baseball CongressWorld Series on July 29 inWichita.