Lester homers, pitches Cubs past Pirates
Jon Lester homered, tied a career high with three RBIS and pitched effectively into the seventh inning to lead the Chicago Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-4 on Saturday in Chicago.
All-star catcher Willson Contreras’ three-run homer and Lester’s two-run single off the left-field wall were the big hits in the Cubs’ seven-run first inning.
The 35-year-old left-hander connected for his third career home run — all with the Cubs at Wrigley Field — for the NL Central leaders.
Lester (9-6) allowed three runs on eight hits, while striking out six and walking none in 6 innings.
Addison Russell drove in two runs as the Cubs won for the fourth time in five games.
Pittsburgh’s Starling Marté hit a pair of solo shots to give him three homers in two days in Chicago. Jung Ho Kang launched a long solo homer.
Chicago sent 12 batters to the plate in the first and chased Pittsburgh starter Jordan Lyles (5-6) after only two outs.
Anthony Rizzo beat a shift with a dribbling RBI single to left to start the scoring before Contreras hit his 19th homer to the basket in right-center. After Lester drove in two more, Javier Báez added an RBI double.
Lyles yielded seven runs on four hits and four walks before being replaced by Chris Stratton.
Lester’s homer to left made it 8-0 in the third. Russell singled in two runs in the fourth to open it to 10-0.
Kang homered in the fifth and Marté connected in the sixth.
Lester was replaced by Brandon Kintzler in the seventh after the Pirates stroked three singles to made it 10-3. Marte homered again in the eighth off Randy Rosario.
BLUE JAYS 2, YANKEES 1: Toronto center fielder Randal Grichuk made a diving catch with the bases loaded and hit a two-run single as the Blue Jays held off New York. The AL Eastleading Yankees, who have not been shut out in more than a year, scored with two outs in the ninth inning on Aaron Judge’s fourth hit of the game, a single off third baseman Brandon Drury’s glove. With runners at the corners, Luke Voit looked at strike three from Daniel Hudson to end it.
RED SOX GET CASHNER FROM ORIOLES: The Boston Red Sox obtained right-hander Andrew Cashner in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox also got cash while sending a pair of 17-year-old prospects to the Orioles. Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts.