Cubs LHP Jon Lester has no-hitter through 6 against Cards
CHICAGO (AP) Cubs pitcher Jon Lester lost his no-hit bid against the St. Louis Cardinals when Jhonny Peralta singled with one out in the seventh inning Monday night.
Peralta hit a hard smash inside third base that deflected off the wrist of All-Star rookie Kris Bryant as he tried to glove a short hop on his backhand. The ball popped up and away from a wincing Bryant, leaving him with no play on a rainy night at Wrigley Field.
It was immediately ruled a base hit.
The game was scoreless at the time, but moments later the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead.
Lester pitched a no-hitter on May 19, 2008, with the Boston Red Sox. He signed a $155 million, six-year contract with Chicago last offseason and entered Monday with a 4-6 record and 3.74 ERA. He hadn't won since May 16.
The left-hander singled in the second inning for his first major league hit after 66 fruitless at-bats - plus five more in the World Series.
Lester hit a low liner that ricocheted off the leg of St. Louis right-hander John Lackey, a former teammate with the Red Sox. The ball caromed away toward shortstop, leaving the Cardinals with no play on an infield single that loaded the bases for Chicago.