Lester wins 18th as Cubs top Reds
CHICAGO -- Jon Lester claimed his National League-leading 18th victory on Tuesday night as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-1.
Lester (18-4) allowed one run on six hits while striking out five and walking none in a seven-inning outing.
The 18 wins are Lester's most since going 19-9 with the Red Sox in 2009.
Anthony RIzzo was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, Kris Bryant added three hits and Dexter Fowler reached base four times as the Cubs mounted an 11-hit attack.
The Cubs (96-55) won their second straight and are one away from matching last year's victory total. The Reds (63-88) dropped their second in a row and sixth in seven games.
Reds starter Josh Smith (3-2) worked three innings and took the loss.
Lester was hit in the right wrist by a Joey Votto liner to lead off the sixth inning and had a visible welt but remained in the game.
The Cubs never trailed en route to a 5-1 lead after five innings. Rizzo extended it to 6-1 in the sixth inning with a one-out base hit to drive in Dexter Fowler.
Lester and catcher David Ross combined for the Cubs' first run.
Ross singled to right with two out in the second and rounded the bases to score on Lester's double to deep right center.
Smith departed after three innings and 66 pitches, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three and walking a pair.
The Cubs proceeded to score four runs after two out off reliever Wandy Peralta in the fourth.
Fowler singled home Jason Heyward for a 2-0 Cubs lead. Lester, who reached on a walk and advanced to second Fowler's hit, made it 3-0 when he scored on a Bryant double that started as a pop up to short right and dropped in for a hit.
Rizzo's base hit to right scored Fowler and Bryant for a 5-0 lead. Peralta was pulled for a pinch hitter in the following inning after allowing four runs on three hits and walking two.
The Reds broke the shut with two out in the fifth as Jose Pedraza's triple to right center brought home Steve Selsky.
NOTES: Reds manager Bryan Price said it was odd to watch ex-Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman close out Monday's game as a member of the Chicago Cubs. "I'm sure it was equally surreal (for him) to look across and see the Reds and be pitching against his old team," Price said. ... Following the Cubs series, the Reds head to Milwaukee for three games. They've beaten the Brewers in five of the last seven meetings. ... Since the All-Star break, 1B Joey Votto leads the NL with a .416 average entering Tuesday. ... Cincinnati RHP Josh Smith (3-1, 4.97 ERA) makes his sixth big league appearance on Wednesday as he faces off against the Cubs RHP John Lackey (9-8, 3.42 ERA). ... Cubs RHP Pedro Strop threw a simulated game on Tuesday and is expected to be activated from the disabled list (meniscus tear) on Friday. ... RHP Jason Hammel's 15th victory on Monday made him the fourth Cub with 15 or more wins, the first time Chicago has had that many since 1935 (Larry French, Bill Lee, Charlie Root and Lon Warneke).