Jon Lester fell short in his bid to win his 20th game Saturday as the Reds ran up his pitch count early in a 7-4 victory over the Cubs at Great American Ball Park. Lester allowed five runs in five innings.
At the plate
The Cubs provided no run support for Lester until the fourth when right fielder Patrick Kivlehan misjudged Jason Heyward’s two-run double. Ben Zobrist hit his third home run in two games, a solo shot to right.
On the mound
Lester got off to a rough start when he bounced a 1-2 breaking pitch that hit Jose Peraza in the first. Peraza stole second base and scored on a Joey Votto grounder.
In the field
The Cubs brought the infield in with one out in the first, and Zobrist was visibly upset when he couldn’t field Votto’s grounder cleanly. That prevented any chance of Zobrist trying to nail Peraza at home plate.
Key number
8: Seasons Lester has pitched at least 200 innings.
Up next
Vs. Reds at Great American Ball Park, 2:10 p.m. Sunday; WGN-9.
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