Levine: Jon Lester Happy To Get First Win With Cubs
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It might have felt like forever for Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, but it was actually Sept. 19, 2014 when he last won a baseball game before Friday, when he posted seven shutout innings against the Brewers on a 1-0 victory that served as first win in a Chicago uniform.
Lester had been building on his durability and consistency since missing 10 days in early March with a tired arm. Efficiency was the name of the game for Lester on Friday, as he held the Brewers to three hits and one walk while expending minimum energy in throwing 90 pitches and striking out four.
"Yeah, it was a lot better," Lester said of his pitch command. "I still didn't like falling behind some guys. We know how aggressive (Brewers hitters) can be at times. We were able to keep balls down, which they actually lifted. I was kind of surprised they did. We kept our outfielders busy today. They made some great plays. All around it was a good day for us."
The highest-paid player in Cubs history after signing a six-year, $155-million deal last offseason, Lester chose Chicago over San Francisco (a higher bid) and Boston (his former team). With such expectations, posting his first win in a new city was a relief and fun.
Specifically, the Cubs' disco-charged postgame win celebrations have been fun for the 31-year-old Lester to watch -- and, on Friday, be the center of.
"It is fun," Lester said "Especially for us older guys. I have never been around anything like it. I think its some thing (bench coach Dave Martinez) and (manager Joe Maddon) bring over from Tampa. What people don't realize that it's hard to win a game in the big leagues. You should celebrate it. I know it's a cliche, but it could be your last. Something could happen and you never get to do this again. We start all over the next day, and that is the beginning of a really good team. You start to be able to separate every single game."
Lester is now 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.
The only run of Friday's game was supplied by Cubs rookie Addison Russell's first home run in the major leagues. Russell had been given a mental day off Wednesday by Maddon, so that he could watch and slow things down a bit.
"It felt good and even more special that it was here at Wrigley," Russell said of the homer. "The fans jumping up and down and hearing the crowd roar. That was an awesome feeling."
Russell's feat of homering for the first time in a Cubs career and it holding up as the only run of the game last happened in 1934, when rookie Phil Cavarretta did it in September of that season.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
