Cubs’ Lester silences Giants
CHICAGO (AP) – Jon Lester pitched a four-hitter for Chicago’s first complete game of the season, and the Cubs beat Johnny Cueto and the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Tuesday night in a rainy rematch of last year’s playoff opener.
Anthony Rizzo hit a tworun homer as Chicago improved to 5-2 on its ninegame home stand. Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward also connected, helping the Cubs bounce back from their 6-4 loss to the Giants on Monday night.
Lester and Cueto hooked up in a memorable pitchers’ duel in Game 1 of the NL Division Series last October, with Chicago winning 1-0 on Javier Baez’s eighth-inning homer. The Cubs eliminated the Giants in four games and went on to their first World Series title in 108 years.
Lester (3-2) was sharp once again in the low-profile reunion. Cueto (4-4) was just OK, striking out eight in six innings, but surrendering Chicago’s three homers.
Brandon Crawford doubled in Buster Posey in the fifth, and that was it for the Giants. Lester retired the side in order in the ninth, getting Christian Arroyo to foul out to left on his 99th pitch for the final out.
The Giants dropped to 3-2 on their seven-game trip to St. Louis and Chicago. They had won eight of 10 overall.
The start of the game was delayed 65 minutes by rain.
TRAINER’S ROOM CF Denard Span (sprained left thumb) was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day. He got jammed on a pitch during Sunday’s 8-3 loss at St. Louis.
Marlins 11, A’s 9 OAKLAND – Justin Bour matched his career high with four hits including his fourth home run in five games to highlight Miami’s best offensive game of the season, and the Marlins held off a late surge to beat Oakland.
Giancarlo Stanton and Dee Gordon had three hits each on a night when every Miami player had at least one by the third inning. Three other Marlins had two hits apiece while Ichiro Suzuki added a two-run single in his return to the starting lineup.
Miami entered the day with the second-worst record in the majors having dropped 14 of 17 before getting a season-high 19 hits against Oakland.
Yonder Alonso hit his 13th home run of the season for the A’s, but left with a bruised right hand after getting hit by a pitch in the sixth. Ryon Healy and Rajai Davis also homered.
Jose Urena (2-2) pitched five uneven innings for his first career interleague win in 10 appearances.
Jesse Hahn (1-4) took the loss and left the game in the third inning with a triceps strain.