CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant homered with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the surging Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday in a makeup of a rained out game from June 15.
The rookie, who had homered twice Sunday, lined a pitch from Cleveland reliever Zach McAllister (3-4) into the right field bleachers to give Chicago its fifth straight win and 21st victory in 26 games.
Carlos Santana singled home pinch runner Abraham Almonte with the tying run with two out in the ninth to spoil John Lester's bid for his first shutout and complete game with the Cubs.
Backed by four double-plays, Lester rebounded from his shortest start of the season to pitch his longest since joining the Cubs. He was relieved by Hector Rondon (5-2) with two outs in the ninth after scattering six hits and striking out six.
Anthony Rizzo's triple in the seventh drove in Chris Coghlan — who had doubled for only Chicago's second hit — to break a scoreless tie in a pitching duel between Lester and Indians ace Corey Kluber.