MLB wrap: Jon Lester's strong performance leads Cubs to win over Angels

Alexis Mansanarez

•
MLB wrap: Jon Lester's strong performance leads Cubs to win over Angels image

Jon Lester shook off his recent struggles Monday against the Angels.

The Cubs ace was 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA in his last six starts but was able to put together seven good innings to help Chicago top Los Angeles, 8-1.

“Today was better,” Lester said, via MLB.com. “I had command of the curveball and changeup through most of the day. We were able to kind of keep them off balance with that. ...

“You try to keep our team going with the momentum on our side, and we were able to do that.”

Lester pitched seven innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run. He struck out six. 

Javier Báez finished with three RBIs and a home run for the Cubs in the victory. 

Jonathan Lucroy helped the Angels avoid a shutout with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh.

Trevor Cahill was given the loss after 4 1/3 innings on the mound. He allowed six hits and five earned runs.

Studs of the Night

Willson Contreras and Jason Heyward also had good days at the plate for the Cubs. Heyward delivered a two-RBI double in the sixth and Contreras homered an inning later.

Walker Buehler helped the Dodgers to their sixth consecutive win after a dominant outing against the Diamondbacks. He pitched eight innings and allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out 11. 

Duds of the Night

The Angels struggled to get anything going against the Cubs but it was Albert Pujols who had the worst night offensively. He finished 0 for 4 at the plate.

Arizona leadoff hitter Jarrod Dyson went 0 for 4 against the Dodgers.

Highlights

It's going, going, gone. Corey Seager hit an opposite field three-run home run to put the Dodgers ahead early.

Edwin Encarnación helped keep things close in Seattle.

What's Next?

Giants (24-34) at Mets (28-31), 7:10 p.m. ET — This game will pit Madison Bumgarner (3-5, 4.01 ERA) and Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 4.90) against each other for the first time since their classic duel in the 2016 National League wild-card game. Bumgarner pitched a shutout that pushed San Francisco past New York. Syndergaard is sure to want his revenge. The Giants currently sit in the bottom of the NL West and have only won three of their last 11 games. The Mets are trying to inch their way up the NL East but have struggled to put wins together in their last two series.

 

Alexis Mansanarez