The Chicago Cubs were held without a hit until the seventh inning on Monday at Wrigley Field, but the bats came alive at the right time as they scored a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
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David Ross broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out single that started a two-run rally, with Jason Heyward cutting the Cubs’ deficit to 3-2 with a bases-loaded single off Tony Cingrani. Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur followed with a walk and that was the end of Finnegan’s night. Lester made four starts against the Reds last season, going 1-0 with a 3.67 ERA. Still, his control is a real problem and we wouldn’t go picking him up in mixed leagues just yet. Throw good pitches, don’t walk batters, don’t make egregious mistakes, and get guys out and you will throw baseball for this team. Ben Zobrist and Jorge Soler both reached base, and on the first pitch Jumbo Diaz threw, Russell deposited a home run into the left field bleachers.
Hector Rondon struck out the side in the top of the ninth to finish the game. That happened in a big way on Monday night. He surrendered a two-strike homer to light-hitting Billy Hamilton in the third inning and a two-out RBI single to Reds pitcher Brandon Finnegan.
NOTES: Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani remains on the 15-day disabled list (mild left oblique strain) but has bullpen work scheduled for this week at Wrigley Field….
After one of MLB’s hottest starts to the season, the Cubs return to Wrigley Field red-hot with a 5-1 record.
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The Cubs offense will get Dexter Fowler back as he didn’t start in the finale of the Diamondbacks’ series but did pinch-hit late in the game.
