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Jon Lester Brilliant, Striking Out 14 As Cubs Top Rockies

CHICAGO (AP) — Jon Lester struck out 14, one shy of his career high and the most for a Cubs pitcher in more than a decade, leading Chicago over the Colorado Rockies, 3-2, on Wednesday.

A day after he was acquired from Toronto, Jose Reyes was 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in his Rockies' debut. The four-time All-Star, obtained in a trade that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto, batted second and singled in his first at-bat for Colorado, then was caught stealing.

Lester (6-8) struck out seven of his first eight hitters and nine of the first 14. He allowed two runs, five hits and one walk in eight innings.

His strikeout high was set for Boston on May 3 last year against Oakland. He became the first Cubs pitcher to strike out 14 since Mark Prior had 16 on Sept. 30, 2004.

Hector Rondon worked around Carlos Gonzalez's two-out walk in a hitless ninth for his 13th save in 16 chances.

Anthony Rizzo hit his first homer since July 7, a wind-blown, two-run drive in the third that glanced off the right-field foul pole for his 17th home run this season.

Chicago leadoff batter Dexter Fowler homered in the first off Eddie Butler (3-7), who allowed three runs and five hits in five innings.

Gonzalez hit his 21st homer, a solo shot off Lester in the seventh. Nolan Arenado hit a sacrif9ce fly in the fourth.

Rizzo is is just 8 for 50 since appearing in his second straight All-Star game. Rookie Kris Bryant went 0 for 4 and is hitting .135 (7 for 52) since appearing in his first All-Star game two weeks ago.

Colorado's DJ LeMahieu was 0 for 4, ending his 18-game hitting streak.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: To make room for him on the roster, the Rockies optioned infielder Cristhian Adames back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Cubs: RHP pitcher Neil Ramirez was placed the 15-day disabled list because of left abdominal soreness.

RHP Yoervis Medina was recalled from Iowa, and the Cubs selected the contract of right-handed sinkerball pitcher Ben Rowen from the Triple-A team. The Cubs signed Rowen on July 5 after Baltimore released him. The Cubs optioned RHP Dallas Beeler to Iowa and designated utilityman Mike Baxter for assignment. ... INF Tommy La Stella (rib/oblique) was sent to Double-A Tennessee on Wednesday to begin a rehab assignment. La Stella has been sidelined since April 8.

UP NEXT

Rockies: LHP Chris Rusin (3-4) is to open a four-game series at St. Louis against RHP Carlos Martinez (11-4).

Cubs: RHP Jake Arietta (11-6, 2.61 ERA) takes the mound against RHP Jimmy Nelson (8-9) as Cubs open an four-game series in Milwaukee. Arietta was the loser last Saturday as the Phillies' Cole Hamels no-hit Chicago.

REST ASSURED

Cubs manager Joe Maddon didn't start regular SS Starlin Casto and RF Jorge Soler as the Cubs played a day game after a night contest. Chris Coghlan started in right and Addison Russell shifted to shortstop, with Jonathan Herrera taking over at second base.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

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