July 10, Cubs.com, Lester roughed up as Cubs drop finale

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1 July 10, 2017 Chicago Tribune, Cubs veteran Ben Zobrist looks to rebound following tough first half Chicago Tribune, 'It's embarrassing:' Cubs allow 10 first-inning runs in 14-3 loss Chicago Tribune, Underachieving Cubs one of hot topics in Miami ahead of All-Star Game story.html Chicago Tribune, 9 questions with Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr.: Favorite ballparks, superstitions, more story.html Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs Jon Lester calls 10-run first inning vs. Pirates embarrassing Chicago Sun-Times, World Series MVP Ben Zobrist says Cubs must leave last year behind Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs scout s son out of hospital after being hit by baseball Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant says Jon Lester didn't deserve boos Daily Herald, Cubs beaten down by Pirates Daily Herald, Imrem: Maybe boos will remind Cubs who they are Cubs.com, Lester roughed up as Cubs drop finale Cubs.com, Zobrist eager for chance to recharge battery Cubs.com, First inning unravels quickly for Lester CSNChicago.com, There Is 'Nobody Quitting Or Giving Up' In Joe Maddon's Clubhouse

2 CSNChicago.com, Division Title Or Bust? Jake Arrieta Says It Might Be The Only Way For Cubs To Reach Playoffs Chicago Tribune Cubs veteran Ben Zobrist looks to rebound following tough first half By Chris Kuc Ben Zobrist's All-Star break began early, as the veteran was not in the Cubs lineup against the Pirates on Sunday at Wrigley Field. The day off combined with the four-day break will allow Zobrist to rest his mind and body and reset after a difficult half-season. "For me, it's been a tough first half one of the toughest of my career," said Zobrist, who is hitting.214 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 60 games. "Injuries-wise I've been battling stuff all year so far. (I've had) inconsistencies at the plate and I've been very unlucky on balls that I have hit well. The great thing about this game is that it's a long, long season." Zobrist and the Cubs are counting on a productive second half from the veteran, who was on the disabled list from June 13-July 1 with a left wrist injury. "I really believe he's going to show up late," manager Joe Maddon said. "If we take care of him well right now he's going to be very vital in the latter part of the season." But first, Zobrist will enjoy the break. "I think it will be good for me, for sure," he said. "I think the DL was good for me, too, just to kind of stop trying to push through all the things that were bothering me. The extra four days is going to make me that much more excited to be back at it on Friday." Happy with Happ: When Maddon was asked what positives he could take from the Cubs' turbulent first half, the manager didn't hesitate. "Right away, Ian Happ is an absolute positive,' Maddon said. "We did not anticipate he would be here this soon or do this well this quickly. He stands right at the front of the line of positives." Happ has been one of the Cubs' more productive hitters since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on May 13. After going 0-for-5 during the Cubs' 14-3 loss to the Pirates, the rookie was batting.257 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs. "I feel comfortable," Happ said. "I'll just continue to learn every day and try to get better." On the board: After starting the season 0-for-9, rookie catcher Victor Caratini notched his first major-league hit with a double in the fifth inning. Caratini added two more hits, including an RBI double in the ninth. Looking ahead: Mike Montgomery will start the first game after the break Friday when the Cubs face the Orioles in Baltimore. The rest of the rotation will be determined following Kyle Hendricks' rehab start with Double-A Tennessee on Monday. Rest vs. reward: While the break will give all Cubs but reliever Wade Davis time off, Maddon said he wishes more of his players would have been selected for the All-Star Game.

3 "On the surface, (rest) is a positive," said Maddon, who will manage Davis and the rest of the National League All- Stars. "For a lot of them, they prefer to be going to Miami and actually I would prefer them going to Miami also. "I want our guys to be recognized and I want them to achieve what they set out to achieve. Any time you play as a kid in any league you want to be a member of that All-Star team. But if you aren't going, please take advantage of this moment and try to really regenerate properly, get your mind right, slow things down a little bit, understand and try to evaluate yourself a little bit in the first half." Chicago Tribune 'It's embarrassing:' Cubs allow 10 first-inning runs in 14-3 loss By Chris Kuc By the time Jon Lester trudged off the mound after yielding 10 runs to the Pirates in the top of the first inning Sunday, pretty much everyone at Wrigley Field especially those fans booing the veteran starter wanted the All-Star break to just go ahead and begin already. The Cubs reached the break in spectacularly poor fashion. They were steamrolled by the Pirates 14-3, ending an unofficial first half of the season in which the defending World Series champions went to fall 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Brewers in the National League Central. Here's some more bad news for the Cubs to chew on during their four days off: The Cardinals pulled into a tie with them for second place in the division. "I think people just want to get away from this, get away from the grind," Lester said after falling to 5-6. "It's not for a lack of effort, it's not for a lack of preparation but for whatever reason it is what it is. "We have to take four days, regroup, refresh and show up on Friday ready to go. The big thing for us is to forget the record, forget our batting averages or ERAs or win-loss (records) and just get back to playing good, sound baseball and the talent on this team will speak for itself." Instead of heading into the break on a high, the Cubs suffered their worst loss of the season and now have time to ponder exactly what it is that occurred Sunday in front of a sun-baked crowd of 41,604. The Pirates began hitting immediately, sending 15 batters to the plate in the top of the first. The biggest blows were a two-run double by Jose Osuna, a two-run single by Jordy Mercer, a grand slam by Francisco Cervelli and a solo shot by Andrew McCutchen. All of that came off Lester, who managed to get two outs in the inning but departed after allowing the 10 runs four earned with three walks and no strikeouts. "Nothing I can say can justify or give you a reason behind (Sunday)," Lester said. "It's embarrassing. Anything else said about it is probably not the right thing." A.J. Schugel earned the win for the Pirates in relief of emergency starter Chad Kuhl, who got the call when scheduled starter Jameson Taillon was scratched with flu-like symptoms. Sunday's performance left many of the Cubs feeling queasy, most notably third baseman Kris Bryant, who booted a grounder hit by David Freese with one out in the first and then watched the Pirates' eruption. "I take full responsibility for that game," Bryant said. "You kind of feel helpless out there when you mess up. It's just a terrible feeling. If I make that play the game is completely different." It got worse when boos rained on Lester as he headed to the dugout.

4 "I don't understand it," Bryant said. "(He was) a big part of the team last year. It's easy to forget sometimes what you do last year because this game is all about what you're doing now. We realize that but that was tough. It should have been me." After the first, it was just a matter getting through the game without anyone getting hurt. The Pirates tacked on two runs in the fourth and another in the sixth. The Cubs got RBI groundouts from Jason Heyward and Ian Happ in the second and fifth innings, respectively, and Victor Caratini's run-scoring double in the ninth was one of his three hits. The loss left the Cubs with their first losing record before the break since they went in "I anticipated better but this is our reality," manager Joe Maddon said. "You deal with reality, you don't deal with theory. Theory is wonderful and theory and reality coming together in a positive moment is always a good thing but our theory and reality have not met yet." The Cubs will attempt to get the two to meet when the break ends Friday in Baltimore and it will be time to put the first half in the rearview mirror. "It's been a grind for everyone," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "You learn a lot about yourself. Obviously, we had higher expectations than that and we all hold ourselves accountable. It will be nice for everyone to be able to relax and get away from the game for a few days." Chicago Tribune Underachieving Cubs one of hot topics in Miami ahead of All-Star Game By Paul Sullivan There were a lot of eyes on Eloy Jimenez on Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park, including quite a few scouts looking at the Cubs' top prospect. To get a quality pitcher at the trade deadline, the Cubs may have to part with Jimenez, who has the kind of power and athleticism that could bring him to the majors as soon as next year. While there's nothing to suggest the Cubs would part with Jimenez, he knows the drill already and has heard the rumors. "This is a business and you have to understand that," Jimenez said after Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. "You're in an organization right now, but you also have to play for the other 29 (teams). That's the way you have to approach these situations." As the baseball world congregates for All-Star week, many are wondering what in the world is wrong with the Cubs, and what they're going to do to fix things. One veteran scout on Sunday called them "the most confusing team I've seen in my four decades" in the game, referring to the abundance of talent, a sub-.500 record and lack of energy. Fittingly, the Cubs finished the first half Sunday with a run differential of zero after their 14-3 loss to the Pirates at Wrigley Field. It matches the combined number of position players and starting pitchers they'll have in Tuesday's All-Star Game, after sending seven representatives to San Diego last year. Now the Cubs can take a much-needed rest and come back with a renewed energy in the second half. Asked if there was a part of him that was fine with having only one representative in Miami, President Theo Epstein said he didn't "give it more than a passing thought" in recent weeks.

5 "I always root for our guys, and I'm one who thinks All-Star selections should be reflective of not just the first 2 1/2 months of the season, but also what the players accomplished the last couple of years," he said. "In that sense I think a lot of our players were deserving (of going)." But perhaps a mental break is more beneficial than traveling to hot, sticky Miami and getting a couple of at-bats in during a meaningless exhibition game? "That's always a silver lining," Epstein said. "But I trust our guys to be able to get (their rest). We've had several All- Stars the last couple years and they've managed to get rest and play well the second half, so it's not a huge concern." Manager Joe Maddon will run the NL team in a game that no longer decides home-field advantage in the World Series. That means every decision he makes won't be viewed simply as a move to try to win the game. He can enjoy himself and get as many players into the game as possible, and hope for the best. "I do believe, historically, baseball All-Star Games have been very competitive, even when there's nothing on the line," Maddon said. "For years it did matter for a National Leaguer to lose to an American Leaguer, and vice-versa. It really was part of the culture at that time. "Maybe that's been subtracted based on the way the game has been played (since the World Series tie-in). There is a pride factor involved, but unless the game has to be won for a particular reason, you may see some of the methods suffer a little, I can't deny that." With only Wade Davis on the NL roster, Maddon-watching will have to suffice for thirsty Cubs fans. Chicago Tribune 9 questions with Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr.: Favorite ballparks, superstitions, more By Chris Kuc Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. was game to answer some questions about the lighter side of life. Childhood sports heroes? I was a big Pedro Martinez fan. He was fiery, man. He didn't back down no matter what. Position player-wise, I was a big Derek Jeter fan. Any superstitions? I have one going on now. That's why I haven't cut my hair. I don't know. However long it gets before I have a little scuffle. Why do you wear No. 6? Growing up I also wore single-digit numbers. The biggest number I wore was high school and that was basketball and that was 20. I wore 12 one year, but I've always been a one, three or six guy. What would you be doing if you weren't playing baseball? I'd probably be playing basketball. I played in high school. I was a point guard. Funniest thing to ever happen to you on a baseball field?

6 In Triple A, I went running onto the field for practice with no pants just my sliders on and my BP jacket. I still threw. Favorite sports movie? "Coach Carter." Favorite Chicago restaurant? I like RPM Steak and Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab. Favorite ballparks? I actually like St. Louis. I like Pittsburgh. Boston was nice for my first time earlier this year. Favorite baseball cities? My favorite city is L.A., of course. St. Louis no, not St. Louis. I like L.A. and Miami. Chicago Sun-Times Cubs Jon Lester calls 10-run first inning vs. Pirates embarrassing By Toni Ginnetti Hours after he left the shortest outing of his career Sunday, Jon Lester looked as stunned as when he walked off the mound. Never in his 12-year career had the three-time World Series champ and four-time All-Star failed to pitch at least four innings, let alone fail to get out of the first. By the time Lester (5-6) exited after only two outs, the Pirates had scored 10 times, handing the World Series champs a bitter end to a bitter first half with a 14-3 rout. I don t know what to say, Lester said. It s embarrassing. There s never a good time to have a bad start. The second pitch of the game I thought I threw well, and they hit a laser. The Pirates had six hits off Lester and drew three walks, but two errors in the inning, by Kris Bryant at third and Willson Contreras behind the plate, were as damaging. Lester was charged with four earned runs, two on homers (Francisco Cervelli s grand slam and Andrew McCutchen s solo shot). He ended a personal streak of 101 consecutive starts with at least one strikeout. Nothing I can say can justify or give you a reason behind today, he said. Manager Joe Maddon said it was unbelievable seeing Lester s performance. The game dropped the Cubs to going into the All-Star break. They were at the break last year. Maddon tried to find silver linings in the performances of rookie catcher Victor Caratini (doubled for first majorleague hit; three hits overall), outfielder Albert Almora Jr. (2-for-2) and relievers Mike Montgomery, Dylan Floro and Eddie Butler, who held the Pirates to four runs in 8⅓ innings.

7 We re not happy, Maddon said of the first half more than the game. Of course our guys are frustrated, but that s normal human nature. But nobody s quitting or giving up. We have to start getting better starting pitching and get our situational hitting back in order. The 10-run first was the first allowed by the Cubs since Aug. 7, 1998, at St. Louis and marked only the seventh 10- run first in franchise history. Monty will start second half Montgomery will start Friday in Baltimore when the season resumes. The rest of the rotation will be determined after Kyle Hendricks pitches Monday for Class AA Tennessee in his rehab from tendinitis in his right hand. Ross returns to field Retired catcher and former Cub David Ross announced he ll play for the Kansas Stars, an independent team of former major-leaguers. They ll being play in the National Baseball Congress World Series on July 29 in Wichita. Chicago Sun-Times World Series MVP Ben Zobrist says Cubs must leave last year behind By Toni Ginnetti They didn t show it with their play, but the Cubs were still in the clutches of their historic 2016 season through the first half of Even World Series MVP Ben Zobrist could feel it, and not in a good way. Letting go of that wonderful but weighty achievement in the second half could be a key to redemption by season s end. We have to get to the point where last year is literally gone, Zobrist said Sunday. It was tough doing that the first half. But if we stay with today, that s where we ll have our best games. It wasn t just that 108 years of futility were erased last season. It was how the team dominated, showcasing a host of young players, rallying through the playoffs and then staging a dramatic World Series comeback. The fanfare that followed didn t go unnoticed by opponents. These other teams are good, too, and they re showing up to play us, Zobrist said. They know we re the reigning world champions. They pitch well and play well against us. Nor has it helped that the Cubs have been beset by injuries this year that largely were absent in Zobrist knows that personally. It s been one of my toughest years, said the versatile veteran, who has been on the disabled list twice this season. Injuries, inconsistency. But that s why it s a long season. Manager Joe Maddon has said the same thing through the first half, which ended with an embarrassing 14-3 drubbing by the Pirates. Zobrist is among a half-dozen Cubs who have been sidelined. But Maddon hopes the time off will have his troops rested and ready for a second-half surge that will carry them to the playoffs. In fact, he has been managing through the up-and-down first half with an eye toward that goal.

8 My experience has shown me to be careful to push too hard [coming off a successful season], Maddon said. There s definitely something to the phrase learning how to win. Players who have done it before don t change. You ll see a looseness about them. We re set up for a good August and September. We ll see if that holds. From that viewpoint, Zobrist believes the All-Star break will be a good thing. There was some fatigue going into spring training [and the first half]. The DL was good for me to stop me from trying to push through all the [physical] things bothering me. These next extra four days [off] will make me all the more excited to come back. Zobrist thinks the same will be true for his teammates, with only closer Wade Davis representing the Cubs in the All-Star Game. There s no problem in confidence, Zobrist said. We know what we have and what we are as a team. It starts with a mindset to maintain focus, get in the game and lock in on every pitch and all the little pieces of the game. I know we can do that collectively in the second half. We re ready to turn the page. We just have to turn on the burners. Chicago Sun-Times Cubs scout s son out of hospital after being hit by baseball By Staff The teenaged son of a Cubs baseball scout has headed home from an Atlanta hospital after being hit in the face with a baseball last month. Jason Lockhart, the 15-year-old son of former Major Leaguer Keith Lockhart, was hit June 17 while crossing home plate at a South Carolina youth baseball tournament. WSB-TV reports Jason underwent several surgeries and was on life support at one point so doctors could monitor and contain bleeding. His sister Sydney shared a video and picture of Jason heading home from the hospital on Facebook Sunday. She writes that her brother still has a lot of healing and resting to do. Sweet Jason is headed home! Sydney Lockhart said. Their father played for four teams, including the Atlanta Braves, over a 10-season career that ended in Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant says Jon Lester didn't deserve boos By Bruce Miles Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester took the brunt of the boos, but third baseman Kris Bryant said that was unfair. The Wrigley Field crowd of 41,604 booed when Lester came out of Sunday's 14-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after just two-thirds of an inning and the Pirates ahead The crowd booed again (and also cheered derisively) after reliever Mike Montgomery recorded the final out of the inning.

9 Bryant and catcher Willson Contreras each committed an error in the inning. "I don't understand it," Bryant said of the booing. "Just what he brings to the table every day as a teammate and as a person, I can't say enough about that guy. "He's been so special to me. He's helped me along the way. Big part of the (world-championship) team last year. It's easy to forget sometimes what you (did) last year because this game is all about what you're doing now. "We realize that, but it was tough. It should have been me (getting booed). I was the reason that all happened. I take full responsibility for it. If I make that play, I think it's zero-zero." Manager Joe Maddon absolved Bryant of the one-out error, saying physical errors are part of the game. Montgomery out of the chute: The Cubs will come out of the all-star break Friday at Baltimore with Mike Montgomery as the starting pitcher. Kyle Hendricks, who is on the disabled list, will pitch a rehab start Monday for Class AA Tennessee. If Hendricks checks out OK, he could start Saturday against the Orioles. Montgomery worked 3 innings of relief Sunday. Eddie Butler, another starting pitcher, worked the final 2 innings in the rout. No taking advantage: The Cubs appeared to have gotten a break before Sunday's game began. The Pirates scratched starting pitcher Jameson Taillon because they said he had flu-like symptoms. Chad Kuhl was pressed into emergency starting duty and worked 3 innings. A major milestone: Rookie Victor Caratini picked up his first major-league hit, a double in the fifth inning. He added a single in the seventh and another double in the ninth to drive in a run. This and that: The Cubs head into the all-star break under.500 (43-45) for the first time since they were in Kyle Schwarber doubled in the second inning. He has extra-base hits in three straight games and is 4-for-14 since being recalled from Class AAA Iowa July 6. Starting pitcher Jon Lester failed to strike out a batter for the first time since joining the Cubs for the 2015 season. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning. Daily Herald Cubs beaten down by Pirates By Bruce Miles If ever a team looked beaten beaten up, beaten down, beaten all around it was the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. For the second time in four days, the Cubs were routed and routed badly. Last Thursday, it was an 11-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, a game in which the Brewers scored 7 runs in the third inning to take a 9-1 lead. It was even worse Sunday. The Pittsburgh Pirates waylaid the Cubs and starting pitcher Jon Lester with 10 runs in the first inning on the way to a 14-3 victory at Wrigley Field.

10 Lester was charged with "only" 4 earned runs as the Cubs committed 2 errors, but he failed to make it out of the first for the shortest outing of his career: two-thirds of an inning. "It's never a good time to have a bad start," said a subdued Lester, who looked as beaten down as any Cub. "I don't know what to say to make it better or to give you a reason. It kind of speaks for itself. It's embarrassing." Instead of getting back to the.500 mark, the Cubs limped into the all-star break with a record of That puts them 5½ games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central, and they're now tied for second with the St. Louis Cardinals. If ever a team needs an all-star break, it's the defending-world-champion Cubs. "It's been a grind for everyone," said first baseman and team leader Anthony Rizzo. "You learn a lot about yourself. Obviously, we have higher expectations, and we all hold ourselves accountable. I think just like last year, going into the break will be nice for everyone, to go to relax and get away from the game for a few days and get ready to go." The Pirates sent 15 men to the plate in the first inning. There were errors by third basemen Kris Bryant and catcher Willson Contreras. Lester gave up a grand slam to Francisco Cervelli on Cervelli's second trip to the plate in the inning. Andrew McCutchen came up next and homered, chasing Lester in favor of Mike Montgomery. Before Sunday, the previous time the Cubs gave up at least 10 runs in the first inning was Aug. 7, 1998, when the St. Louis Cardinals scored 11 at Busch Stadium. The Cubs have been outscored in the first inning this season. Last year for the entire season, the Cubs gave up 71 runs in the first inning. "I think people just want to get away, move, get away from this, get away from the grind," Lester said. "It's not for a lack of effort. It's not for a lack of preparation. For whatever reason it is, it is what it is. So we've got to come back, take four days, regroup, refresh and show up on Friday ready. "I think the big thing for us is just play good baseball, play solid baseball. Forget the record, forget our batting averages, our ERAs, wins, loss, whatever, and just get back to playing good, sound baseball. The talent on this team will speak for itself." Manager Joe Maddon headed out for more pleasant duty. He will manage the National League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Miami. The Cubs were at the break a year ago. "We're not happy," Maddon said. "Of course guys are frustrated. But that's just a normal human reaction, I think. So we have to get beyond that, come back in the second half and play like we're capable of playing only to learn from the first half. There's no point in quitting or giving up or relinquishing anything. We are frustrated. We're not playing our game. Get our starting pitching back in order, and our situational hitting has to come to bear too. "I anticipated better. Of course I did. We did. But this is our reality. You deal with reality. You don't deal with theory. Theory is wonderful. Theory and reality coming together in a positive moment is a good thing. But our theory and reality have not met yet." Daily Herald Imrem: Maybe boos will remind Cubs who they are By Mike Imrem Joe Maddon heard fans booing during the first inning in Wrigley Field on Sunday afternoon as the Cubs embarked on a 14-3 loss to the Pirates. The ever-positive Cubs manager did say the boos were deserved but also saw another side of the story.

11 "Then they stayed," Maddon said of the 41,604 in attendance. "I'm impressed with their tenacity." Most of them stayed for a while, anyway, after the Pirates ignited the boos by taking a 10-0 lead. Maddon began the day by insisting that the Cub fans upset with his team were the "vocal minority." Then the "vocal minority" sounded more like a vocal majority little more than an hour later. Still, Maddon insisted, "I really believe the 'vocal majority' are the ones who stay with us every day." Maddon said he sensed that Cub fans were satisfied with what has been going on but he isn't talking to the same people most of us have been talking to. All season the Cubs have tested the tolerance of fans who just last November were celebrating the franchise's first championship in 108 years. Sunday was merely the cork bursting out of frustration instead of champagne bottles. I almost wrote that fans were booing the same Cubs who won the World Series last year but that would be inaccurate. These aren't those Cubs. Most of the names and numbers are the same but these aren't those Cubs. Come to think of it, who are these Cubs and what have they done with those Cubs? Fans have been patient but the breaking point was this pathetic performance in the last game before the all-star break. The game began early, at 12:11 p.m., but the Cubs appeared to have departed for the break much earlier, like after Saturday's loss to the Pirates. Pittsburgh had a 10-run lead 40 minutes before the Cubs' normal 1:20 starting time for home day games. That's right, 10-0, in the top of the first, off pitching ace Jon Lester, with the Cubs having the opportunity to achieve the cheap thrill of a.500 record at the break. Instead, the Cubs have this to think about before their next game Friday: A record, a tie with St. Louis for second place, 5.5 games behind division-leading Milwaukee. "I don't know what to say to make it better," Lester said. Disappointed Cub fans, not just the vocal minority, said it all by booing their displeasure. First the boos were smattered. Then they were more pronounced. Then they were a crescendo. To be honest, I wondered last week whether when? Cub fans would become restless over the way their team was underachieving. And whether it would be appropriate for them to boo the players they cheered a few months ago. Yes, of course it's appropriate. The Cubs still are charging exorbitant prices for tickets, aren't they? In fact, prices were raised this season, weren't they?

12 All people ask in return is what at least looks like an earnest effort, which the Cubs haven't been providing. So the Friendly Confines became a little unfriendly Sunday. After the first inning, the crowd did settle down and tried to offer encouragement but by then it was too late. A few hours later the Cubs scattered for the break with those boos ringing in their ears. Maybe that'll make a difference when nothing else has. Cubs.com Lester roughed up as Cubs drop finale By Carrie Muskat and Scott Chasen CHICAGO The Pirates ended the first half with a laugher while the defending World Series champion Cubs go into the All-Star break totally befuddled. Francisco Cervelli smacked a grand slam and Andrew McCutchen followed with a solo homer in a 10-run first inning to power the Pirates to a 14-3 victory over the Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field. "I think a lot of us get frustrated and down on ourselves sometimes me, too," Chicago's Kris Bryant said. "This is not the way you want to go into the All-Star break." Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon was scratched prior to the game because of flu-like symptoms, but that didn't seem to matter. The Pirates gave substitute Chad Kuhl an ample cushion, sending 15 batters to the plate in the opening inning, 12 against Jon Lester, who threw 53 pitches before he was pulled. It's the first time in Lester's career (355 starts) that he did not finish the first inning. "The good news we scored 10 runs in the first inning," Cervelli playfully said after the game. "So [Kuhl] didn't have to think about too much." Kuhl, who started Tuesday and went seven innings, gave up one run on two hits over three innings. A.J. Schugel picked up the win in three innings of relief. "Incredible. Uncharted territory for [Kuhl], coming off his longest start of his season," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "To go out there and to cut the game to six innings, and to pitch dealing with the adrenaline and the late call, he just said, 'I've got it.'" Cervelli also hit an RBI single in the fourth, and the five RBIs tied his career high, which he established on May 8, Josh Harrison finished with three hits, including a solo homer with one out in the ninth for the Pirates. The Cubs' Joe Maddon, who will manage the National League team in Tuesday's All-Star Game, heads into the break with his team at 43-45; Chicago was one year ago. The loss, coupled with wins by the Brewers and Cardinals, dropped the Cubs 5 1/2 games behind Milwaukee. "Of course I didn't anticipate it I anticipated better," Maddon said of the Cubs' first-half record. "This is our reality, and you deal with reality, you don't deal with theory.... We have to get back, play our game, pitch, startingpitch well. We have to hit more consistently, especially with runners in scoring position. "I'm still very confident," Maddon said. "I believe in our guys and I'm eager to see us coming out of the break." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED First things first: The Pirates collected seven hits in the first, including an RBI single by Josh Bell, a two-run double by Jose Osuna and a two-run single by Jordy Mercer and the two home runs. The Cubs didn't help themselves, committing two errors one by third baseman Bryant and another by catcher Willson Contreras. It's the first time

13 the Cubs gave up at least 10 runs in the first inning at Wrigley Field since the Reds scored 10 on Sept. 1, 1947, and the 24th time the Cubs have given up at least 10 runs in one inning in franchise history. This season, the Cubs have allowed 80 runs in the first inning over 88 games. Bryant's error occurred when he couldn't get a glove on David Freese's grounder, which could've been a potential double-play ball. Fans booed Lester when he was pulled, but Bryant took the blame. "It should've been me I was the reason all of that happened," Bryant said. "I take full responsibility for it. If I make that play, I think it's 0-0." Defense: The Pirates' infield did its job in the third and fourth innings. Kuhl walked Jon Jay and Bryant in the third but got Anthony Rizzo to hit into a double play, then struck out Ian Happ. In the fourth, the Cubs loaded the bases with one out against Wade LeBlanc, but pitcher Dylan Floro grounded into a 6-3 double play to end that inning. "We had a restraint. It was three [innings] or 50 [pitches]," Kuhl said. "Did my best to go out there and just hopefully finish those three innings." QUOTABLE "I think people just want to get away, get away from this, get away from the grind. [The Cubs' record] is not for a lack of effort, it's not for a lack of preparation. It is what it is. Take four days to regroup, refresh and show up Friday ready. I think the big thing for us is to play good baseball, play solid baseball. Forget the record, forget the batting averages, our ERA, and just get back to playing good sound baseball. The talent on this team will speak for itself." Lester, on how the Cubs are feeling heading into the break SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Cervelli is the sixth player in the modern era (since 1900) with a first-inning grand slam from the No. 2 spot, and first since Mike Trout did so in Lester was unable to make it out of the first inning for a start for the first time in his career. His previous shortest outing was 1 1/3 innings on July 3, The last time the Cubs gave up more first-inning runs through 88 games was in 1897 (85 runs). UNDER REVIEW With one out and a runner at second in the Pirates' first, McCutchen lined a ball down the left-field line. He was credited with a double, but the Cubs challenged the ruling, and after a review, the call was overturned. The ball landed just outside the foul line. The Cubs had the bases loaded and one out in the fourth when Floro hit a grounder to Mercer, who opted to keep the ball and step on second base, then throw to first. Both the runner at second and Floro were called out, but the Cubs challenged the ruling at first and after a review, the call stood. With two outs and a runner at first in the Chicago eighth, Addison Russell hit a grounder to second baseman Max Moroff, who threw to first. Russell was called safe, but the Pirates challenged the ruling and after a review, the call was overturned. WHAT'S NEXT Pirates: The Pirates will return home after the break and continue on with their stretch against teams in the NL Central, taking on the Cardinals for a three-game set. Gerrit Cole (7-7, 4.43 ERA) is slated to start the series opener

14 at 6:05 p.m. CT on Friday. He gave up two runs in six innings in his last outing, which the Pirates won in Philadelphia, 5-2. Cubs: The Cubs will open the second half in Baltimore in an Interleague series against the Orioles. Left-hander Mike Montgomery will start on Friday, and the Cubs will wait to see how Kyle Hendricks does after a rehab start Monday to determine the rest of the rotation. First pitch will be 6:05 p.m. CT. Cubs.com Zobrist eager for chance to recharge battery By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO The Cubs' Ben Zobrist is looking forward to the All-Star break for the chance to recharge after a difficult first half. "For me, it's been a tough first half, one of the toughest of my career," said Zobrist, who entered Sunday batting.214 and has spent time on the disabled list because of a wrist injury. "Injury-wise, I've been battling stuff all year. [There have been] inconsistencies at the plate, and also I've been very unlucky. "It's been one of those tough first halves," he said. "That's the great thing about this game is that it's a long season and we have the opportunity to turn it around as a club and we're still within striking distance. That's the thing we take consolation in in the first half." The Cubs had a team meeting on Thursday, and Zobrist said there's no need for another players-only get together. He's been talking to some of the young players one on one. "I don't think there's a need for a big meeting," Zobrist said. "We've had a couple of those. You start adding to that and it becomes redundant. I think you make more of an impact as a veteran by taking care of your own business first of all, and also just encouraging the other guys in the little parts of their game that can be improved as well. "I know we can do a better job in the second half," Zobrist said. The Cubs have yet to announce their starting rotation after the All-Star break and were waiting to see how Kyle Hendricks does in a rehab start on Monday with Double-A Tennessee. Hendricks has been on the disabled list since June 5 with inflammation in his right hand. Cubs manager Joe Maddon, his coaching staff and closer Wade Davis received their All-Star jerseys prior to Sunday's game. The Cubs are not only taking the coaches but the clubhouse staff, including Tom Hellmann and Gary Stark, and strength coach Tim Buss. "It's kind of like you take three or four games of the World Series and put it in one day," Maddon said of the All- Star Game. "It's really congested. It's quite an honor to be given this opportunity." So far, Maddon is 2-0, having been part of the American League coaching staff in 2003 and the manager of the '09 AL team. "You try to slow it down and try to take advantage so you enjoy it," Maddon said. "I promise you I will tell myself that at some point. It is an honor to do this. but it's fast and furious and there's a lot to do. At the end of the day, you'd like to win it." Usually, Maddon and his wife Jaye go into seclusion during the All-Star break. He's got something planned after Tuesday's game, beginning with a "getaway car." "Bonnie and Clyde, we'll hit the freeway and just keep on going," he said.

15 Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. was looking forward to the Interleague series against the Orioles to begin the second half because he'll get to see his "cousin," Manny Machado. The two aren't actually blood cousins. "His first baseball practice was the same as mine," Almora said of the Orioles' third baseman. "We grew up together, went to the same high school together for a couple years. I was 3, he was 5, and we played baseball together until we were 15 on every team. He would come to my house, I would go to his house. It's like we were family." This will be the first time they'll play each other in professional ball. Cubs.com First inning unravels quickly for Lester By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO A year ago, Jon Lester lasted just 1 1/3 innings against the Mets in a start just prior to the All-Star break. On Sunday, it was the same time but an even worse outing for the Cubs' left-hander. Lester was unable to finish the first inning for the first time in his career, giving up 10 runs (four earned) over twothirds of an inning in the Cubs' 14-3 loss to the Pirates. He threw 53 pitches to 12 batters including Francisco Cervelli, who hit a grand slam to blow open what was already a 5-0 game. "If I had a reason, I would've fixed it out there," Lester said. "Unfortunately, it's never a good time to have a bad start. I really don't know I don't know what to say to make it better, to give you a reason. It kind of speaks for itself. It's embarrassing." Lester said he felt fine. "The second pitch of the game, I thought I threw a really good pitch and [Josh Harrison] hits a laser," Lester said. "Nothing I can say can to justify or give you a reason behind today. I think it pretty much speaks for itself it's embarrassing. Anything else said about it is probably not the right thing." Lester might have gotten out of the inning clean if third baseman Kris Bryant had handled David Freese's grounder, but instead it got past him for an error, which loaded the bases with one out. Lester then gave up three straight run-scoring hits, walked a batter, got a sacrifice, then walked another to load the bases for Cervelli. Lester's previous shortest outing was 1 1/3 innings on July 3, 2016, which was that game against the Mets. "It's really unbelievable to see Jon in that situation, although, it did happen, almost a similar situation in New York, almost the same time of the year," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "For whatever reason, it happens. It puts you in tough spot." The Cubs' bullpen could definitely use some rest over the All-Star break. Mike Montgomery went 2 1/3 innings on Thursday, Eddie Butler lasted four-plus on Friday, and Jake Arrieta went 5 2/3 innings on Saturday. "We're not happy," Maddon said of the feeling in the Cubs' clubhouse. "Of course, guys are frustrated. That's just a normal human reaction. We just have to get beyond that and come back in the second half to play like we're capable of playing. There's nobody quitting or giving up." The Cubs are tied with the Cardinals for second in the National League Central, 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers. They still have a chance in the second half. "I think the big thing for us is to play good baseball, play solid baseball," Lester said. "Forget the record, forget the batting averages, our ERA, and just get back to playing good sound baseball. The talent on this team will speak for itself."

16 CSNChicago.com There Is 'Nobody Quitting Or Giving Up' In Joe Maddon's Clubhouse By Staff Approximately half of the Cubs 2017 campaign has been played and it can be perfectly encapsulated in a quote by pitcher Jon Lester Sunday night following their 14-3 loss, It s embarrassing. Yes, 14-3, you read that right and no that is not a Bears score. The veteran left-hander conceded 10 runs in the top of the first inning and was pulled after just 53 pitches and two outs. This made him the fourth pitcher in MLB history to allow 10 runs and fail to make it out of the first. To put that astronomically bad performance into better perspective 10 runs is two more than Lester gave up in the months of August AND September during the 2016 run. Embarrassing. Sitting at the Cubs are certainly underperforming compared to their 2016 All-Star break record of 53 35, but that is not necessarily a fair metric to measure this year's team. The 2016 World Series champion Cubs had arguably one of the most impressive regular seasons that Wrigley Field has ever seen. We will likely never again experience something quite like that. However, even the heroes of 2016 had their struggles. The Northsiders lost 15 of their last 21 games heading into the All-Star break. How quickly people forget. The 2017 post All-Star break Cubs need one thing: a heavy dose of optimism. Skipper Joe Maddon said in an interview following Sunday's loss to the Pirates (42-47) that in the Cubs locker room there s nobody quitting or giving up. That type of morale is a great start to a strong second half. In addition to that, the boys in blue will hopefully get back their Ivy League stud, Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks, who finished third in 2016 Cy Young voting, has been dealing with a right hand injury for a good chunk of this season. He will certainly bring a boost to the mound where the Cubs are seemingly lacking this year. Young talent like Ian Happ is grounds for optimism as well, hitting 12 home runs in this first half of the season at just 22 years old, Happ has made a name for himself. Most importantly Cubs fans should remain optimistic that the second half of the season will awaken the sleeping giant from Middleton, Ohio. Kyle Schwarber, whose presence in the batter's box could help the Cubs offense and possibly spark something more as it did in the 2016 postseason. If the Cubs aren t quitting or giving up, then neither should Cubs fans. Let s all take this four-day All-Star break to calm down, take a deep breath, and watch Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge trade-off launching baseballs into lunar orbit from Miami. CSNChicago.com Division Title Or Bust? Jake Arrieta Says It Might Be The Only Way For Cubs To Reach Playoffs By Vinnie Duber Is winning the National League Central the only way for the Cubs to make the playoffs? With a pair of wild card spots up for grabs and just about three months worth of baseball left to play, it might seem a tad early to pigeonhole the Cubs into a do-or-die scenario when it comes to their postseason chances. But

17 Jake Arrieta suggested that might be the case after Saturday s 4-2 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, the second-to-last game before the All-Star break. That s the primary objective, Arrieta said of the Cubs getting on top of the NL Central standings. With where we re at, we ll probably have to win the division versus potentially getting a wild card spot with regards to where the other teams are around the league. That s the goal at hand, and I think we re still in a good position to get to where we want to go. The first half has been a mighty disappointing one for a Cubs team that entered the follow-up season to their curse-smashing World Series championship with expectations of starting a dynasty on the North Side. Instead, with one game remaining before the All-Star break, the Cubs are a game below.500 and 4.5 games back of the firstplace Milwaukee Brewers. The heretofore fruitless search for consistency continued Saturday night, with Arrieta perhaps the most conspicuous of the underachieving Cubs allowing four runs and failing to get out of the sixth inning. The Cubs haven t been able to string wins together with any sort of regularity. You have to go back to June 20 for their last set of back-to-back victories. It still seems a little early to say division or bust, even if that s the scenario Arrieta laid out Saturday night. Obviously, though, Arrieta is looking at the NL West, which houses thee 50-win teams and three of the four best records in the NL. If the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies do in the second half what they did in the first, then yeah those two wild card slots would be spoken for. The Central crown does seem more realistic as things stand right this second. The Brewers, for as many headaches as they ve given the Cubs in the early going, haven t been able to pull away from the pack. The division's medicority from top to bottom is plain to see, with the Cubs and their middling play still good for second place in the standings. There is a lot of baseball to be played, and a lot of things could change with any and all of the teams in the National League. But that s the thing: The Cubs will have to change, too. They ll have to flip the switch in a way everyone s waited for them to do but hasn t happened to this point. We ve battled all year. We ve been up and down. We haven t been able to sustain a streak for as long as we would like. But we re a five- or six-game winning streak away from being right there, Arrieta said. We re still right there. We re a couple sweeps away or a good winning streak away from being back in this thing. As poorly as we feel we ve played as a team at times, we re still right there. Remaining positive is the only way to go at this point. There s still a significant amount of games left to be played, and we re going to do our best to get to the top. It s frustrating because we ll play very well for a short period of time and then kind of have a lull. That s been the story of the season, and there s no excuses, there s no complaining. It s the situation we re in. We re all going to handle it as professionals and be there for the other guys in the clubhouse or in the dugout and do our best to rally together and try and put something together to get on top of the division. It s a long way to October. But already the Cubs have watched as the Dodgers, D-backs, Rockies and Washington Nationals have flown past them to the forefront of the NL. Catching the Brewers currently looks and might end up being easier than catching the other teams in wild card contention. But can the Cubs do it? The only alternative might be missing the postseason a year after winning the World Series.