Chicago Cubs Recap: Rizzo’s blast helps Lester, Cubs take down Reds

Following Jake Arrieta‘s second career no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds Thursday evening, the Chicago Cubs were back at it again. Southpaw Jon Lester was solid while Anthony Rizzo and company backed him up with a handful of runs to take Game 2 of this four-game set.

For the third straight day, first baseman Anthony Rizzo took an opposing pitcher deep. It wasn’t too long ago when the young star found himself in a bit of a slump where his batting average was well below .200 to begin the campaign. He’s finally got things going, launching a solo home run in the 8-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

After both teams failed to score to open up the contest, the Cubs (13-4) struck first on a sacrifice fly off the bat of veteran catcher David Ross. Ross started last night’s no-hit performance which just so happened to be the first time in his big league career. He also had a solo home run in the 16-0 win in Game 1.

Tonight’s starter, Jon Lester (2-1, 1.98 ERA), allowed the Reds (8-9) to pick up their first hit of the series when left-handed hitter Joey Votto slapped a pitch to opposite field with two outs in the first. Jon held the home team to one earned run on five hits with one free pass and four strikeouts in seven innings of work before exiting the game.

More from Chicago Cubs News

• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
• Cubs might start to limit Justin Steele’s workload soon
• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation

Both Ross and Lester bunted in a run during their three-run fourth inning, giving the Cubs a four-run lead. Ross ended up making his way to second base on a throwing error by the pitcher, Jon Moscot and advanced to third on Lester’s well-placed bunt.

Moscot (0-1, 5.06 ERA) was charged with three earned runs behind five hits with four walks, two strikeouts and the big fly given up to Rizzo in five frames. Things got out of hand as soon as J.J. Hoover stepped out on the mound.

Infielder Javier Baez, who stumbled while sliding head first into home plate early in the game, connected on the fourth pitch of his at-bat and lined it over the left-field wall for his first home run of the season. This started another hit parade for the Cubbies as Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, and Kris Bryant strung together back-to-back-to-back doubles that would drive in multiple runs.

Next: The magic of Chris Bosio

Bryant is another player who had himself a big night in the series opener. He had a two home run performance with the first being a two-run homer to start things off and a grand slam which broke things wide open.

So far, Heyward (aside from Kyle Schwarber) and Tommy La Stella are the only Cubs on the bench who have yet to hit a home run. Even Jake Arrieta took someone deep. But there’s still plenty of baseball to play. The Cubs will have the opportunity to claim yet another series when John Lackey takes the mound opposite former Cub, Dan Straily tomorrow evening.