Cubs LHP Jon Lester loses no-hit bid in 7th against Cards

When Lester dug in for his first at-bat of the game in the second inning, he sent a 1-2 fastball right back at Lackey.

Tim Cooney (0-0, 5.40) is slated to start the finale for St. Louis while right-hander Dallas Beeler is expected to be called up to make his third career start for the Cubs and first since July 9, 2014.

“Worthless” is how Lester described that infield single off John Lackey when a reporter tried to toss him a softball to begin his postgame news conference. The Wrigley Field crowd rose in unison for a standing ovation while the video board flashed congratulations for the achievement.

Cardinals LHP Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.09) faces Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (8-5, 2.80) in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader.

“He pitched great”, said Lackey, who was teammates with Lester from 2010-14 with the Boston Red Sox.

It was a half of inning the teams didn’t need to play, but now that they have it’s not quite clear how long the umpires will wait for the game to restart.

Chicago Cubs Jon Lester gets his first Major League Baseball base hit against the St… I know you are supposed to be more concerned about winning within the division.

But they could have summoned the ghost of Houdini, flown in the Pope, and gotten the second coming of Kyle Schwarber, and it wasn’t going to matter against these guys.

Before Monday night’s game, Lester was 0-66 in his batting career. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given, to play for a team like this, and I’ll go out there and help them win any way I can.

The Cardinals earned a series split at home against San Diego with a 3-1 win Sunday. The preference, obviously, for the team would be to get six innings from both lefties, and each has shown that he can be capable of that.

Less than three months after making his major- league debut, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is an All-Star, one of two rookies selected along with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson.

Shortstop Starlin Castro came to the plate with one out, but scoring hopes fizzled when he grounded into an inning-ending double-play.

Rizzo was back in Chicago’s lineup one day after getting his first rest of the season. They’ve scored more than two runs only twice in their last 12 games. Soriano was signed June 9 and had been in the Dominican Republic waiting for his immigration situation to clear up.

Suarez went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to help the Reds snap a three-game skid and improve to 4-0 against Washington this year, clinching the season series.

In the second inning, the Cubs loaded the bases on Lackey and it was the most unexpected hitter who filled them against the Cardinals’ veteran.