Cole out-pitches Lester
CHICAGO — As hard as he is for opposing hitters to figure out, Gerrit Cole insists he is taking a simple approach on the mound.
Cole outpitched Jon Lester as the Pittsburgh Pirates hung on for their seventh straight win, beating Chicago 3-2 Friday to delay the Cubs’ playoff celebration.
“There’s a lot of extra noise that happens in September and I think the simpler you can keep things the better it is,” Cole said.
Pittsburgh increased its lead for the NL’s top wild card to 4 1/2 games over the Cubs, who would have secured their first postseason appearance since 2008 with a victory. Chicago would clinch with a loss by San Francisco to Oakland on Friday night.
Cole (18-8) and Lester (10-12) each lasted seven innings, and Mark Melancon held off a rally attempt in the ninth for his major league-leading 51st save in 53 chances.
Chris Denorfia led off the ninth with a double and scored on Starlin Castro’s one-out triple to right as the Cubs closed within a run and excited the crowd of 40,432.
Melancon then struck out Jorge Soler and Javier Baez on knuckle curves in the dirt.
Cole’s 18 wins are the most for a Pirates pitcher since John Smiley went 20-8 in 1991. Cole gave up two runs and five hits, struck out eight and walked two while improving to 7-1 in nine starts against Chicago.
“I know that he’s got a competitive chip that’s special,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “When you combine that with a very elite skill set and a desire to be `the guy.’ He’s shown that ability in September.”
He also drove in the game’s first run with a single in the third.
Michael Morse put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1 with an RBI single off Lester in the seventh. The Pirates added a run in the eighth against Pedro Strop when Jordy Mercer reached on a wild pitch as he struck out leading off and scored from third on a grounder by Starling Marte.
Lester allowed two runs and five hits.
“Great game,” manager Joe Maddon said. “As a baseball fan, you were totally entertained. That’s what it’s supposed to look like.”
Kris Bryant had two hits and scored, but Chicago came up short after winning seven of nine.
