 with his first career pinch homer, but the Cubs went back ahead in the bottom half.Anthony Rizzo singled off Craig Stammen (6-5), rookie shortstop Fernandez Tatis Jr. threw Addison Russell's grounder into center field for an error, Jason Heyward was intentionally walked and David Bote hit a grounder to third. Machado threw home for a forceout and catcher Francisco Mejia threw to first, even though he didn't have a play on Bote. The ball hit off the glove of first baseman Eric Hosmer and bounced into short right field as Rizzo scored on Hosmer's error.Craig Kimbrel struck out three around a four-pitch walk in the ninth for his fourth save in five chances. San Diego has lost five of six and 11 of 15.Jon Lester made his 400th big league appearance and matched his career high by allowing 12 hits, giving up four runs in six innings. Lester needed 26 pitches to get through the first on a muggy afternoon with a 93-degree temperature at game time.Eric Lauer gave up four runs, five hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings in his first appearance since July 5. Lauer had gone on bereavement leave following the death of his father. He remained in the game after he was hit on the back by Albert Almora Jr.'s single in the third.Hunter Renfroe hit a sacrifice fly in the first and Machado made it 3-0 in the third with his 24th homer, a two-run drive.Rizzo's fourth career slam put Chicago ahead in the bottom half.Francisco Mejia tied the score with an RBI double in the fifth, and Baez hit an opposite-field homer to right-center in the bottom half.HELP WANTEDChcago figures to be in the market for a left-handed reliever before the trade deadline. The return of Carl Edwards Jr. (strained left thoracic) from the IL left seven righties among eight relievers. LHP Randy Rosario was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. ''It's always nice to have more than one,'' manager Joe Maddon said.TRAINER'S ROOMPadres: Manager Andy Green was optimistic RHP Garrett Richards (Tommy John surgery last July) will be available in late August. ''He's on a relatively quick path, all things considered,'' Green said. ''I think we're all excited about that possibility.'' Cubs: LHP Cole Hamels (strained left oblique) took part in light throwing and was scheduled for another bullpen session this weekend. ... C Willson Contreras (sprained right arch) remained on pace to return from the IL when eligible Wednesday.UP NEXTLHP Joey Lucchesi (7-4) is scheduled to start Saturday for San Diego. LHP Jose Quintana (7-7) has won three straight starts for the Cubs.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Slumping Padres to face surging Cubs at WrigleyFLMTwo teams distancing themselves from their rivals meet over the next three afternoons at Wrigley Field in Chicago.But they are headed in opposite directions.The Chicago Cubs are 5-1 since the All-Star break to open up a three-game lead in the National League Central.Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are 1-5 coming out of the break and are 4-10 over their last 14 games to fall further and further out of the second Wild Card spot.While the Cubs appear to be at a threshold, the Padres are definitely at a crossroads, having just lost two of three games to the Miami Marlins after losing seven straight home games at Petco Park.In a match of left-handers, the Padres will open with Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.04 ERA) Friday afternoon while the Cubs counter with veteran Jon Lester (9-6, 3.74 ERA). An added factor will be the weather. Triple-digit temperatures are expected for the first two games of the series.This will be Lauer's first start since July 5. He had been away from the Padres on bereavement leave following the death of his father just before the All-Star break."He's a big part of our family," said Padres manager Andy Green of Lauer's absence from the team. "He's been through a lot with his family. I can't imagine what he's had to walk through over the last couple of weeks. We're here to support him. To have him here. Him getting back on the mound at Wrigley Field will be as cathartic an anything can possibly be for him. I know he really wants to pitch right now." The 24-year-old Lauer has been, with one exception, the Padres' most consistent starter over the past two months. Over his last nine starts, Lauer is 3-3 (and the Padres are 6-3) with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.224 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings. He allowed exactly one earned run in seven of those nine starts.Lauer's ERA has fallen from 5.75 to 4.04 over the last nine games.He made one start against the Cubs during his 2018 rookie season. It did not go well. He gave up five runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings to suffer the loss (0-1 vs. Cubs, 22.50 ERA). Cubs hitters went 5-for-11.Lauer had celebrated his 11th birthday just a week before the 35-year-old Lester made his Major League debut on June 10, 2006.Lester will be making his 19th start of the season on Friday. It will also be the 14-season veteran's 400th career appearance and 399th start. Now in his fifth season with the Cubs, Lester has a 70-37 record and is a two-time National League All-Star who finish second and ninth in two NL Cy Young Award races."Jon is the ultimate professional," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said earlier this season while discussing Lester. "He is going to be there every fifth day and he'll give you everything he has. You can set your clock by Lester. That's a sign of being the ultimate pro. Pitchers like him are rare and getting rarer." Lester will be making his eighth career start against the Padres. He is 3-1 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.279 WHIP in 40 2/3 innings against the Padres, allowing 18 runs on 40 hits and 12 walks with 36 strikeouts.--Field Level Media
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