Chicago Cubs rally to back Lester in 4-3 win over Pirates

The Chicago Cubs offense backed a slow start from Jon Lester to rally from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Saturday night. Dexter Fowler did leave after the first inning with a possible hamstring issue.

The first inning couldn’t have gone any better for the Pittsburgh Pirates against a very hot Jon Lester of the Chicago Cubs. Jordy Mercer lead-off the inning with a home run and Jon Lester (9-3, 2.06)–who hadn’t walked a batter in his last three outings–allowed three consecutive before escaping allowing just the one run. That was likely the best opportunity the Bucs had all night to press the Cubs, but they couldn’t finish the job.

The Cubs (46-20) managed just six hits, but three of those were solo home runs including the game-winner from David Ross in the bottom of the sixth innings. He added another RBI on a suicide squeeze play that scored Javier Baez after he took second after being dead to rights on a pick-off move with a fantastic slide. He then advanced to third on a pitch in the dirt and scored on the suicide squeeze play.

Pirates (33-35) starter Jonathan Niese (6-4, 4.74) also allowed solo shots to Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, the latter of which left the park traveling an estimated 448 feet. Lester got plenty of support from his defense, especially on the left side in which Addison Russell and Baez were responsible for several Web Gems over the course of the evening.

Mercer was the bright spot early on for the Pirates with the lead-off home run followed by a lead-off double in his second at-bat. But the Cubs handled him from there as he struck out in his final two at-bats.

The Cubs got a small scare when Fowler came up lame trying to beat out an infield hit in the first inning. He left with “an uncomfortable tightness” in his hamstring. During the telecast, Maddon told John Smoltz and Matt Vasgersian that they though it could just be cramping and that he could be available for Sunday’s game.

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The two teams will meet again tomorrow night on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball as they will be broadcasting from the bleachers for Sunday from the Seats.