Game One Hundred Twenty-Three – Cubs 2, Indians 1
WP – Hector Rondon (5-2) LP – Zach McAllister (3-4) Save – None
Kris Bryant stepped in with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the game tied at one. Bryant lifted the first pitch from Zach McAllister out to right. The ball carried into the bleachers and the Cubs ended the homestand with a walk-off in a make-up game with the Indians.
Kris Bryant (1-for-4 with a home run) delivered his second walk-off home run of the year after the Cubs managed one run in 7 2/3 innings against Corey Kluber.
Chris Coghlan (1-for-4 with a double and a run scored) doubled with one out in the seventh and scored on a triple from Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4 with a triple and a RBI). The Cubs managed five hits on the afternoon but found a way to beat the Indians on a day Corey Kluber took a perfect game into the sixth inning.
Jon Lester was excellent Monday afternoon. It was a hit by pitch in the ninth inning that ended up being the only run Lester allowed. Lester took a shutout into the ninth. Lester made 83 pitches, 52 for strikes, through eight innings. Lester plunked pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn with his first pitch of the ninth. An infield single by Francisco Lindor put pinch-runner Abraham Almonte in scoring position with one out. Lester struck out Michael Brantley swinging. Carlos Santana ripped a 0-1 pitch into left. Almonte scored and tied the game at one. After the Indians scored and put the go ahead run on third, Joe Maddon went to the pen for Hector Rondon.
Hector Rondon induced a grounder to third off the bat of Roberto Perez to end the inning … and closed the book on Lester.
Jon Lester allowed one run on six hits with a walk, two hit by pitch and six strikeouts. Lester threw 97 pitches, 62 for strikes, in 8 2/3 innings.
The Cubs defense stepped up behind Jon Lester on Monday afternoon. Lester was focused on keeping the ball down and the infield did their job behind him.
Three double plays ended three straight innings … the second, third and fourth. It was an around the horn double play that ended the second. Anthony Rizzo made an outstanding play to end the third. With Giovanny Urshela at first, Corey Kluber popped up a bunt toward first. Rizzo tried to make a sliding catch, was short but blocked the ball from bouncing into foul ground. Kluber did not run. Rizzo started a 1-6-4 double play. It was a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Carlos Santana that ended both the fourth and seventh innings.
Starlin Castro and Tommy La Stella worked extremely well together, especially with it being their first game since April 8 as the Cubs’ shortstop and second baseman.
The Cubs split the four-game season series with the Indians (2-2).
With Monday’s win, the Cubs improved to a season-high 21 games over .500 with a 72-51 record.
The Cubs start a six-game road trip Tuesday night (9:15pm CDT) with the first of three in San Francisco. Jake Arrieta is scheduled to face Matt Cain in the opener with the Giants.