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Levine: Bryant's Long Ball Backs Lester's Win

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cubs left-hander Jon Lester had just enough offense behind him to squeak out his sixth win Wednesday evening. In his first career complete game at Wrigley Field, Lester went all nine innings, allowing just a lead-off home run to Kike Hernandez on the second pitch of the game in an eventual 2-1 win for the Cubs over the Dodgers.

"You don't get to do that to often," Lester said in reference to his 13th career complete game. "That is the second time Joe (Maddon) has surprised me and I lucked out with a complete game. I am just glad he gave me a chance. I know in a one-run games, I am hitter to hitter."

Maddon had confidence in Lester and also knew closer Hector Rondon wasn't available. Rondon's back had stiffened up on him before the ninth inning.

Lester was brilliant, striking out 10 and walking none in the four-hitter.

"I am a big believer that when a guy completes a game, it can really take him to another level in the next several starts," Maddon said. "There is something it does to a starter mentally. I found that out in the minor leagues, and I really believe that."

The Cubs got their big hit from Kris Bryant in the third inning, when he hit a two-run homer off Dodgers right-hander Mike Bolsinger. Bryant hit a Dave Kingman-like sky-scrapping home run to the concourse in center field, just over the bushes.

Bryant undercut the ball that had serious hang time. It was his 12th homer of the season, and he was just happy to do his part.

"The pitching has been unbelievable," Bryant said. "It has been that way the full season. That makes it really fun for us, because we know what we are going to get on the mound. I don't know if we really helped them out getting one-hit and three-hit (in the past two games). We had good fortune to get one today."

Offense has been a serious challenge in this series for both clubs. The Dodgers were one-hit Monday night, and the Cubs were one-hit Tuesday. After the Hernandez homer to lead off Wednesday, the Dodgers managed just three more hits in nine innings. The Cubs had just three themselves.

"We have been just watching guys on both sides executing their pitches to spots," Maddon said. "They are working in good counts. They are all getting ahead of hitters. So I don't think it's a flatness (on offense). It just has been well-pitched on both sides."

Chicago's starting pitching continues to be the strength of the team. The rotation pitchers are 4-0 with a 0.89 ERA in the team's last six games.

"I don't want to put any jinx on it, but that one was pretty good," Lester said. "It was a cool experience to do that here."

At 36-15, the Cubs are once again a season-high 21 games over.500. They now have a 7.5-game lead over the second-place Pirates in the NL Central.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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