Lester better but still far from satisfied
We're getting to the half-full, half-empty stage when talking about Cubs pitcher Jon Lester.
The way things have gone for the lefty, that's progress.
After Sunday's 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field, Lester was asked if he was frustrated or optimistic about what was his best start of season, even if it wasn't up to his own high standards.
"Both," he said. "There's always frustration. Your ultimate goal is to win the game. But as a pitcher, you have to separate that and evaluate. It's better, but it doesn't take away the frustration, and it doesn't take away from doing my job.
"Like I said last time, I'm kind of the loose end of the chain of the five (starting pitchers) right now. That'll change. That'll be better. That will tighten up. I'll be back to myself and go deeper into ballgames."
Lester is still rounding into physical form after being sidelined for part of the late going of spring training with a "dead arm."
Sunday was Lester's best start of his 3, but he has yet to post a quality start as he fell to 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA. The Cubs signed Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract to be their ace. On Sunday, he went 5⅓ innings, giving up 6 hit and 3 runs.
"I don't like to evaluate things that way, as far as being 'almost,'" he said. "Almost there or not almost there or whatever. It was better. The infield had a busy day, which is good."
His teammates staked him to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a pair of unearned runs against former Cub Andrew Cashner (1-2, 2.65 ERA). But in the second, Derek Norris led off with a single and Will Middlebrooks followed with a home run to left-center.
"I don't like to say it was one pitch that did me in, but I just didn't execute the cutter in to Middlebrooks and paid for it, especially after we scored 2 off Cashner there," Lester said.
There was one moment of humor - and resourcefulness - from Lester and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Still in the second with a man on first base, Lester fielded Clint Barmes' hard comeback bouncer. But he couldn't get the ball out of his glove as he looked to second base to start a possible double play.
Failing that, he took off his glove with the ball still in it and flipped to first baseman Anthony Rizzo for the out. Rizzo saw what was happening, and he took off his mitt to field Lester's glove.
"Obviously, it's not something you draw up," Lester said. "I was more surprised I caught the ball than anything. Obviously, when you go to grab it, it's not there. So I thought I missed it or knocked it down or something. It was kind of mad scramble to figure out what's going on. It all happens in a couple seconds.
"I never had to do that before. An out's an out. I'll take it any way I can."
As far as the team goes, the Cubs lost two of three in the series and fell to 6-5. They did have two runners reach base after two outs in the ninth inning, but Jorge Soler struck out to end the game.
"We've been playing hard nine innings every game," manager Joe Maddon said. "I really appreciate that. We gave ourselves that opportunity, and anytime you do that, as a manager you really appreciate your guys for that. No question."
Cubs scouting report
Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus today; WGN Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday and Thursday
Radio: WBBM 78-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jake Arrieta (1-1) vs. A.J. Burnett (0-1) today at 6:05 p.m.; Travis Wood (1-1) vs. Francisco Liriano (0-1) Tuesday at 6:05 p.m.; Jason Hammel (1-0) vs Vance Worley (1-1) Wednesday at 6:05 p.m.; Kyle Hendricks (0-0) vs. Jeff Locke (2-0) Thursday at 11:35 a.m.
At a glance: The Pirates are off to a 6-6 start after beating the Brewers Sunday at PNC. It's been a struggle offensively in the early going for the Bucs. Andrew McCutchen entered Sunday batting just .206, and the Pirates as a team were 10th in runs scored and 14th in on-base percentage. The Cubs were 5-14 against the Pirates last year, 3-7 in Pittsburgh. They entered Sunday fourth in OBP and fourth in home runs.
Next: Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, Friday-Sunday
- Bruce Miles