Bryant, Lackey Lead Cubs Over Angels For 8th Straight Win
CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit his 28th home run, John Lackey outpitched friend and former teammate Jered Weaver and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 Tuesday night for their eighth straight victory.
Willson Contreras also homered and Ben Zobrist added an RBI double for the major league-leading Cubs, who won their 70th game and moved a season-high 29 over .500.
Kole Calhoun homered on Lackey's third pitch, but the former Angels right-hander later retired 12 straight. Lackey (9-7) allowed three hits over eight innings, and all six of his strikeouts were looking.
Weaver (8-9) gave up four earned runs and another one that was unearned when he dropped a throw to first base for an error during the Angels' fifth straight loss.
Bryant homered over the left-field bleachers in the fifth.
The matchup of veteran right-handers was as one-sided as their teams' seasons as Chicago opened a 10-game homestand.
The 37-year-old Lackey and 33-year-old Weaver were teammates a decade ago with the Angels. They had split their previous two meetings when Lackey pitched for Boston.
Calhoun struck first, sending Lackey's third pitch into the left-field bleachers for his first homer since June 25. Contreras tied it with a shot to left-center in the third.
Weaver had the Cubs off balance early with his 83 mph fastball and 70 mph curve. But Chicago started to pounce the second time through the order, with Anthony Rizzo doubling in a two-run fourth and again in a two-run fifth.
The second hit came after Bryant sent Weaver's slider onto Waveland Avenue, and the Cubs improved to 17-6 since the All-Star break.
Weaver allowed eight hits in five innings as Los Angeles lost for the 11th time in 17 games.
Pedro Strop pitched a perfect ninth to complete Chicago's three-hitter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: New closer Cam Bedrosian was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right middle finger. RHP A.J. Achter was called up from Triple-A. . Manager Mike Scioscia said C Geovany Soto (knee) could be activated before Wednesday's game. . 1B C.J. Cron (hand) plans to take live batting practice in Arizona this week. .. RHP Nick Tropeano will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Cubs: Jorge Soler started in left field for the first time since June 6 following a hamstring injury and three games as the DH last weekend. He went 2-for-4.
CALL REVERSED
The Cubs' Dexter Fowler was ruled out after 3B Yunel Escobar had a foul pop knocked out of his glove by a fan in the fifth. Umpires initially ruled it no play before huddling and changing the call without a replay review.
HEYWARD'S CATCH
Cubs OF Jason Heyward made a headfirst, snow-cone grab of pinch-hitter Johnny Giavotella's fly to shallow right in the eighth.
UP NEXT
The series concludes Wednesday night with Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07 ERA) returning from the bereavement list to face right-hander and former Cubs draft pick Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.23).
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
