Lester throws 8 shutout innings in Cubs' win

One common misconception is that Jon Lester didn't have a good season last year for the Cubs.

But if you look past the sub-.500 record (11-12), Lester actually had a solid 2015.

Lester is off to an even better start this year, and he worked 8 shutout innings Monday night in a 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Lester gave up 4 hits while walking none and striking out nine. That came on the heels of his complete-game 2-1 victory last Wednesday over the Los Angeles Dodgers. "He's really on top of his game right now," manager Joe Maddon told reporters after the game.

Philadelphia scored all of its runs in the ninth after Maddon elected not to send Lester out for the last inning. Lester threw 95 pitches and had to wait out a lengthy top of the ninth.

"It was really an easy decision once we got the sixth run," Maddon said. "It just didn't play out right. We had to fasten our seat belts in the ninth."

Lester said he didn't lobby hard to stay in the game.

"I told Joe I was fine, but I also told him that he's the manager," Lester said. "I've tried before with him, and I think I've won maybe one in the last two years. When he shakes my hand, I know it's one of those deals where it's pretty much done, so there's no real point in arguing."

The Cubs signed Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract in December 2014, and they signed him to be their ace. Lester has been supplanted by Jake Arrieta for that title, but Lester is pitching like the co-ace of a strong Cubs starting rotation.

So what has changed? Other than Lester feeling personally more comfortable in Chicago, not a whole lot.

In addition to his 11-12 record last season, Lester had an ERA of 3.34 and a WHIP of 1.12. After Monday's game, the record is 7-3 with a 2.06 ERA and an 0.96 WHIP.

The so-called peripheral numbers are strikingly similar for Lester at this point of the season compared with those from the entire 2015 season. To wit:

• Lester's strikeouts per 9 innings were 9.09 last year. He entered Monday with it at 8.79.

• His walks per 9 were 2.06 last year compared with 2.17 this year going into Monday.

• The strikeouts-to-walks were 4.40 last year compared with 4.06 this season.

• The strikeout percentage last year was virtually unchanged, from 25 percent last year to 24.9 percent this season.

The Cubs staked Lester to a 1-0 lead in Monday's first inning, picking up 4 hits and stranding three. Jason Heyward made it 3-0 in the fourth with a 2-run homer. It was Heyward's 100th career home run and his third this season.

Justin Grimm came on to pitch the ninth, and he gave up 3 hits, including a 3-run homer to Freddy Galvis. Hector Rondon relieved Grimm and gave up a homer to Tommy Joseph before working out of further trouble to earn his 11th save.

The Cubs lost left fielder Jorge Soler to a left-hamstring injury while he was running out a single in the third inning. Maddon said Soler will have an MRI today.