Postgame Wrap: Cubs v Mariners; Lester, Schwarber

I was really excited to see Jon Lester pitch his first game of the spring and it absolutely looked like the first game of the spring too. Lester gave up four hits in the bottom of the first inning, including two doubles, that led to 3 runs. He looked totally uncomfortable today and could never find a groove as Seattle scored another three runs in the bottom of the second inning. This time it was two singles and two errors, one by Lester on, what should’ve been an easy out at second, and other by Ross who couldn’t haul in the toss from Schwarber as he attempted to throw out a runner at the plate.

This was not the way Lester wanted to start his 2016. Look for him to bounce back in his next outing. He finished today pitching two innings giving up six runs, three earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts.

As for the offense, we saw Soler go 1-3 with a home run, Baez looked good hitting 2-4 including a home run and  two RBIs. Here’s a video clip of the Soler blast:

It looked like the Cubs may pull this one out late as they briefly managed to take the lead in the top of the eighth, only to give up three runs in the bottom of the eighth and eventually drop this one by the final of 10-8.

Kyle Schwarber left the game early with a tweaked knee but it sounds like he’s ok after all. Please, oh please, don’t do that to me!!

#Cubs Schwarber not concerned re: knee. Said he tweaked it making a throw. Decided to come out after 2nd at-bat

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 10, 2016

Friday, the Cubs return to Sloan Park and will face off against the Reds. John Lackey will make his first appearance donning a Cubs uniform against Cincinnati’s Robert Stephenson.