Schwarber homers in 2nd straight game, Cubs beat Giants 5-4
CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie bopper Kyle Schwarber homered in his second consecutive game and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Thursday night.
The Cubs, playing meaningful baseball in August for the first time in years, won for the seventh time in eight games. They also moved a half-game ahead of the Giants in the race for the second NL wild card.
Jorge Soler drove in the game's first two runs with a bases-loaded single in the first inning, and Schwarber made it 5-0 with a three-run drive off Chris Heston (11-6) in the second. But instead of an easy win, the Cubs had to hang on.
San Francisco's Brandon Belt hit a two-run homer off Jason Hammel in the fourth and Brandon Crawford added another one off Tommy Hunter in the sixth to make it 5-4.
Jason Motte and Pedro Strop each worked a scoreless inning for the Cubs. Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 20 chances.
Hunter Pence had two hits and scored two runs, but the Giants lost for just the sixth time in 22 games.
Neither starter lasted long, with Heston going only four innings and Hammel getting lifted after he walked the first two batters in the fifth.
Heston, tops among major league rookies in wins, took the loss after going 5-0 in his previous eight starts for San Francisco. He gave up five runs and five hits, walked two and hit a batter with a pitch.
Hammel allowed two runs and three hits. He exited after walking Ehire Adrianza and Hector Sanchez.
Justin Grimm (2-3) got out of that jam, but the game got tight after Hunter gave up Crawford's two-run drive in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: RHP Mike Leake will miss a turn in the rotation because of a strained left hamstring. Acquired from Cincinnati last week, Leake was scheduled to make his second start for the Giants on Friday. ... OF Angel Pagan returned to the lineup after missing two games with soreness in his knees.
Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said C Miguel Montero (sprained left thumb), rehabbing with Double-A Tennessee, is "getting close" to a return from the 15-day disabled list. ... GM Jed Hoyer said INF Tommy La Stella (right rib cage inflammation), on the 60-day DL, will play Friday and Saturday for Tennessee and then be re-evaluated. Hoyer said La Stella is "itching" to return.
UP NEXT
LHP Jon Lester (6-8, 3.26 ERA) starts for the Cubs. RHP Ryan Vogelsong (7-7, 4.16) goes for the Giants in Leake's place.