Lester leads Cubs past Dodgers
CHICAGO -- Jon Lester gave up one early run and very little else in the Chicago Cubs 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Lester (6-3) captured his second straight win while also evening his career record at 2-2 against Los Angeles.
Lester gave up a leadoff home run to Enrique Hernandez then limited the Dodgers to three hits through the rest of a season-high 9-inning, 113-pitch outing while striking out 10 and walking none.
The complete game was Lester's first since a 2-1 victory the Pirates on Sept. 15, 2015.
The Cubs (36-15) bounced back from Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Dodgers and have now won seven of their last eight. Chicago has taken two of three from Los Angeles entering Thursday's series finale.
Starter Mike Bolsinger (1-2) worked five innings for the Dodgers (28-26). He allowed two runs on two hits, struck out six and walked a pair. He also hit two batters.
Hernandez gave the Dodgers a lead on the game's second pitch, sending Lester's 0-1 offering to left for a solo home run.
The lead did not last as the Cubs shook off Tuesday's one-hit doldrums.
Kris Bryant put the Cubs ahead 2-1 lead in the third and took over the team lead with his 12th home run of the season. Bryant sent Bolsinger's 1-0 pitch to center field with one out and scored Dexter Fowler.
The Dodgers' Trayce Thompson stretched a single into a two-base hit with two out in the fourth, but stayed put when Joc Pederson grounded to first to end the inning.
NOTES: When three Dodger pitchers held the Cubs to one hit on Tuesday, it marked the first time that three consecutive games between teams resulted in one-hitters. Los Angeles had one hit in Tuesday's series opener and was no-hit by Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta in the previous meeting last year. ... 1B Anthony Rizzo leads all NL players in All-Star voting. He is among five Cubs leading at their positions according to early tallies announced Wednesday. Other Cubs leaders are 2B Ben Zobrist, 3B Kris Bryant, SS Addison Russell and OF Dexter Fowler. ... 1B Adrian Gonzalez is third in NL voting, the only Dodger among the leaders. ... The Cubs wrapped up May with an 18-10 record, tied for fifth-most wins in franchise victory for the month. ... Thursday's series finale features Dodgers rookie LHP Julio Urias (0-0, 10.13 ERA) making his second big league appearance. The Cubs counter with RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 2.93 ERA).