Jon Lester struck out nine, Austin Jackson drove in a career-high five runs, and Starlin Castro had four hits, including a sixth-inning leadoff home run and RBI double, to lift the Cubs to a 10-3 victory Wednesday night and hand the Reds their 11th straight loss.
The win put the Cubs within 2 1/2 games of the Pirates for the top National League Wild Card spot and home-field advantage in the one-game playoff on Oct. 7. The Pirates split a doubleheader against the Cardinals on Wednesday, with St. Louis’ second-game win clinching the NL Central.
Lester, making his final regular-season start, retired the final 20 batters he faced and now holds the franchise’s single-season record for strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher with 207. Jake Arrieta is scheduled to start the NL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser, with Lester in line for the first game of the NL Division Series if the Cubs advance.
“We have a few more [games] to go,” Lester said. “It was a good one to end [the regular season] on. Nice to finish on that note.”
Anthony DeSclafani took the loss Wednesday, and the Reds now have dropped 11 straight for the first time since June 14-24, 1998.
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