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 3B Kris Bryant started in left field as manager Joe Maddon opted to
go with a stronger defensive infield by playing INF Tommy La Stella
at third base. Bryant, a rookie, made just two starts in left field
during the regular season. Kyle Schwarber, normally the left
fielder, played right field as Bryant shifted to left. Schwarber
started in right field just twice during the regular season. Bryant,
who finished 0-for-3 with a walk, moved back to third base in the
sixth inning.
RF Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer off Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole
in the third inning. He became the third Cubs rookie to hit a
postseason homer, joining Geovany Soto in Game 2 of the 2007 NL
Division Series against Arizona and Frank Demaree in the 1932 World
Series against the Yankees.
LHP Jon Lester is scheduled to start Friday at St. Louis in Game 1
of the best-of-five National League Division Series. Lester went
11-12 with a 3.34 ERA in 32 starts in the regular season after
signing a six-year, $155 million contract as a free agent in
December. He is 1-3 with a 2.56 ERA against the Cardinals in six
career starts, including 1-3 with a 2.59 ERA in five starts this
season. Lester is 6-4 with a 2.57 ERA in 14 career postseason games,
including 12 starts. Lester had 207 strikeouts, setting a
single-season franchise record for left-handers that had stood since
1970, when Ken Holtzman had 202.
[to top of second column] |
CF Dexter Fowler went 3-for-4 for the second multi-hit postseason
game of his career. His other came in 2009 for Colorado against
Philadelphia in Game 3 of a National League Division Series. His
three runs tied a franchise postseason record set by Frank Demaree
in the 1932 World Series against the Yankees. Fowler's fifth-inning
solo shot off Pittsburgh RHP Gerrit Cole was his first homer in
exactly one month since connecting Sept. 7 off St. Louis RHP Lance
Lynn.
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