Cubs rely on closer by committee
After seven dominant CHICAGO — innings from Jon Lester, the Chicago Cubs turned to a closer-by-committee due to their loss of Pedro Strop.
Lester allowed two hits over seven innings with a season-high nine strikeouts, Willson Contreras hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning and the Cubs beat the Reds 1-0 Saturday to maintain their NL Central lead.
Justin Wilson pitched the eighth. Jesse Chavez got the first out in the ninth and Randy Rosario retired Joey Votto on a fly to warning track in left-center. Steve Cishek retired Eugenio Suarez on a broken-bat grounder to third for his fourth save, completing a four-hitter.
“We know we’re going to be matched up throughout the game, and that’s what Joe likes to do,” Cishek said. “Everyone knows it’s the ninth inning. We just try to treat it like any other inning.”
Seeking their third straight division title, opened a 2½-game NL Central lead over second-place Milwaukee. Chicago has won three straight, four of five and eight straight against Cincinnati.
Lester (16-6) came out after three runs and 5⅔ innings against the Brewers last Monday because of back tightness.
“It’s doing fine,” Lester said. “Like I say, good drugs and good docs. We’re all good.”
After a midseason slump, the 34-year-old left-hander is 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA in his last six starts.
“Jonny typically gets better when he smells it,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He made some really big pitches when he had to.”
Strop has a hamstring strain, causing him to miss the rest of the regular season.