Lester helps Cubs beat Phillies
CHICAGO -- Jon Lester scattered six hits, struck out seven and walked a pair as he halted a personal two-game losing streak in the Chicago Cubs' 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
Lester, who improved to 5-3 with his 6 1/3-inning effort, gave up two runs (one earned) to open a three-game weekend series at Wrigley Field.
Jorge Soler went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a solo home run to open the fourth inning for the Cubs. David Ross clubbed his 100th career homer -- a three-run shot -- later in the fourth inning, and Kris Bryant added a bases-empty homer in the fifth for his 11th of the year.
The win was the third straight for the Cubs (32-14) while the Phillies (26-22) have dropped three of their last four.
Philadelphia left-hander Adam Morgan (1-3) took the loss in his sixth start since a late April call-up from Triple-A.
Soler's two-out single to left drove in Ben Zobrist for the game's first run with two outs in the opening inning. Zobrist had reached base on a one-out double down the third-base line, extending his streak of reaching safely to 32 straight starts.
Back-to-back Cubs errors helped give Philadelphia an unearned run and the equalizer in the third.
Peter Bourjos led off the third with a single, picked up two bases on Cubs throwing errors and scored from third on Maikel Franco's one-out sacrifice fly to left.
Chicago jumped back ahead with a four-run fourth. Soler's lead-off homer, his fifth of the season, bounced off the left-field video board. With one out, Ross drove home Addison Russell and Javier Baez with a homer to left for his fourth homer of the season, giving the Cubs a 5-1 lead.
Bryant's home run to lead off the fifth gave the Cubs a 6-1 lead and ended the day for Morgan, who gave up six runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked one.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon pulled Lester with one out in the seventh after he gave up a double to Odubel Herrera.
Reliever Pedro Strop threw one pitch before umpires stopped the game as skies opened, leading to a 56-minute rain delay.
When play resumed new Cubs pitcher Trevor Cahill gave up back-to-back singles, and Herrera scored from third on Franco's infield base hit to trim to margin to 6-2. Cahill escaped any more damage by striking out the next two batters.
Rain also halted the game for 37 minutes in the top of the ninth. Cubs closer Hector Rondon faced three batters in a scoreless ninth that lasted less than four minutes. He got Freddy Galvis to ground into a game-ending double play.
NOTES: The Phillies posted a 5-2 record against the Cubs in 2015. ... Rehabbing OF Cody Asche (right oblique strain) and LHP Mario Hollands (Tommy John surgery) both moved to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday after respective outings in Class A and Double-A. Both opened the season on the disabled list. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo had his first day off in 45 games on Friday as manager Joe Maddon picked Thursday's off day and Friday's game for a two-day break. ... Kris Bryant stepped in at first base in his place, his fourth defensive position of the season. ... The Cubs have clinched the eighth straight month of .500 baseball or better during Maddon's first eight months. ... The Cubs are scheduled to send RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.30 ERA) against Phillies RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-6, 3.86 ERA) in Saturday's middle game.