The Legend of Kris Bryant Keeps Growing!

24 Aug, 2015

Kris Bryant homered with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the surging Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Indians on Monday in a makeup of a rain out 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.

“It was a great pitchers’ duel,” Bryant said. “I thought Jon had enough to pull it out but sometimes you’ve got to give credit to the other team.

“They came through and I knew I was going to get an at-bat there and I made the most of it.”

That Bryant came through in the bottom of the inning came as no surprise to Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

“He’s definitely not intimidated by the moment,” Maddon said.

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.

“(Lester) had everything going on,” Maddon said. “I felt really good about him in the ninth inning.

“We had to pitch that well. Their guy was outstanding. Our guy was outstanding.”

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.

Kluber flirted with a no-hitter for the third time in his last four starts, then allowed just one run on four hits while striking out in 11 in 7 2/3 innings. He retired the first 16 Cubs hitters before back-up catcher David Ross lined a single to center with one out in the sixth.

“(Kluber) was good. He and Lester both,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “On a day when the wind’s blowing out, it wasn’t a factor until the last hitter of the game.”

AP

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