Cubs continue to dominate Pirates

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

John Lackey fielded phone calls from plenty of interested teams in the offseason. Yet the veteran pitcher opted for the Chicago Cubs.

Sure, the money was good. The opportunity was even better.

“I had some pretty good offers from other people and I chose this one for a reason,” Lackey said. “It’s all here.”

Looks like it.

Lackey worked through five innings, Chris Coghlan hit a three-run triple and the Cubs held off the staggering Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Tuesday night.

Coghlan’s second-inning drive off the wall in right-center against Ryan Vogelsong (3-7) gave the NL Central champions all the offense they would need to win for the seventh time in their last eight games. Chicago improved to 101-56, the club’s highest victory total since it won 104 games in 1910.

Dexter Fowler added an RBI double for the Cubs. Lackey (11-8) worked around five hits and three walks to win his last regular season start. The 37-year-old finished his 14th season 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA and has looked fresh since a stint on the disabled list to rest his right shoulder. Lackey is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA since coming off the DL earlier this month.

“The rest was good for him,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s going into the postseason well rested. Just got to keep these guys sharp.”

Lackey’s next start will be in the playoffs, a time of year the two-time World Series champion knows well. He’s 8-5 with a 3.11 ERA in the postseason and doesn’t think Maddon will need to do anything too extravagant to keep him engaged during the lengthy downtime.

“I don’t know about [simulation] games,” Lackey said. “I can throw a bullpen and be just fine. I don’t need to see somebody up there. I know how to throw the ball over the plate.”

Felix Pena recorded the final two outs for his first career save after Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run single off Justin Grimm to get the Pirates within two. Pena struck out Sean Rodriguez with the bases loaded to end it.