Cubs run streak to 8 behind Lackey, homers

Lackey served up Kole Calhoun's 11th homer on the third pitch of the game, and gave up two more hits over eight innings for the win. Chicago is now 70-41, and it's the quickest the Cubs have reached 70 wins since 1945, which was their last World Series appearance. The eight straight wins matches their season high, also done May 2-10.

Contreras' solo home run

LAA@CHC: Contreras cranks a solo homer to left-center

Willson Contreras belts a solo home run into the bleachers in left-center field, tying the game at 1 in the bottom of the 3rd inning

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In and out: With one out in the Chicago fifth, Dexter Fowler hit a popup near the seats along the third-base line. The Angels' Yunel Escobar tried to catch it, but two fans also reached for the ball. Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued with third-base umpire Stu Scheurwater that the fans interfered, and after the umps conferred, Fowler was called out. Bryant then crushed the first pitch from Weaver over the left-field bleachers and onto the street. According to Statcast™, the exit velocity was 106 mph.

Fowler out on fan interference

LAA@CHC: Umpires rule Fowler out on fan interference

Dexter Fowler hits a foul pop fly that is not caught, but is ruled out after the umpires determine there was fan interference on the play

Loving the road: Calhoun's 2-for-4 performance was a continuation of a season-long trend. Calhoun is hitting .327 on the road, as compared to just .222 at Angel Stadium. Calhoun's home run was his 68th run scored and he came into the game ranked third in among American League right fielders in that category.

Getting in gear: The Cubs tied the score at 1 on Contreras' leadoff homer in the third, then rattled off three straight hits in the fourth, including back-to-back doubles by Anthony Rizzo and Zobrist to go ahead, 2-1. Zobrist eventually scored on Addison Russell's sacrifice fly. Russell now has 16 RBIs since the All-Star break, second on the team to Rizzo, who has 17.

Zobrist's RBI double

LAA@CHC: Zobrist lines an RBI double to right

Brn Zobrist rips an RBI double to right field to bring home Anthony Rizzo and give the Cubs a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning

Home run woes: Weaver, who hasn't won since July 17, served up two home runs for the second time in his past three starts. Weaver contributed to the second run of the fifth inning by dropping a throw from Albert Pujols at first for what could've been the third out, allowing Rizzo to score from second on the error.

REPLAY REVIEW
Ji-Man Choi hit a ground ball up the middle with one out in the Angels' fifth that Russell stopped with a diving effort in shallow center field. Russell's throw to first was initially ruled to have beaten Choi to first, but the Angels challenged it. After a review, Choi was ruled safe.

Choi's infield single

LAA@CHC: Choi safe at first after overturned call

Ji-Man Choi is ruled safe at first base with an infield single, following an overturned call in the 5th inning

WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco will make his second start with the Angels, who acquired him Aug. 1 in a trade with the Twins. Nolasco's debut with the Angels was against the A's, and he allowed five earned runs in six innings for a no-decision. Nolasco is 7-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against the Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PT.

Cubs: Jason Hammel will start Wednesday and close this brief Interleague set. Hammel is 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA at Wrigley Field. He was activated from the bereavement list on Tuesday, and was pushed back one day. First pitch will be 7:05 p.m. CT.

Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

Brian Hedger is a contributor to MLB.com based in Chicago and covered the Angels on Tuesday.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Cubs run streak to 8 behind Lackey, homers