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PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jon Lester scattered four hits over six innings and the Chicago Cubs inched closer to their first NL Central title since 2017 with a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
Lester (3-2) struck out one and walked one in his first victory since Aug. 11. He retired the first nine batters he faced and kept the lowest-scoring team in the majors in check. Only two of Pittsburgh's four hits left the infield, and the Pirates managed to get to third base just once while losing for the 13th time in 14 games.
Kyle Schwarber responded to being benched in the middle of a loss to Minnesota on Sunday by doubling twice and driving in a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with a shot to the gap in right-center field. Javy Baez drove in a run with a surprise bunt and Victor Caratini added an RBI double.
It wasn't all good news for Chicago. Third baseman Kris Bryant's injury-plagued 2020 took another turn when he left in the bottom of the third with what the team called right lower oblique tightness. The three-time All-Star and 2016 NL MVP spent time on the injured list earlier this season with a sprained ring finger on his left hand while also dealing with a wrist problem. Bryant has appeared in just 32 of Chicago's 54 games.
Pittsburgh rookie starter J.T. Brubaker (1-3) pitched 6 2/3 solid innings to bolster his bid for a shot at the starting rotation in 2021. Brubaker allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and a career-high nine strikeouts.
Indians 7, White Sox 4
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Carlos Santana's two-run homer snapped a fifth-inning tie and Jose Ramirez homered again as Cleveland moved closer to clinching a postseason spot -- and slowed Chicago's push for the AL Central title -- with a 7-4 win over the White Sox on Monday night. The Indians, who missed the playoffs a year ago, cut their magic number to one.
By winning the series opener, Cleveland improved to 5-2 this season against the White Sox, who are on the verge of winning their first division crown since 2008.
It's possible the rivals could meet again next week in the playoffs depending on how the final days of the regular season unfold.