Jon Lester leaves early with an injury

CHICAGO – Jon Lester did not want to leave Monday's game for the Cubs – not with Wrigley Field for the opening game at home, the very tight memory of the available pitchers and the team that is trying to transform the recent journey on the road as a distant memory.
When a left hamstring problem was

CHICAGO – Jon Lester did not want to leave Monday's game for the Cubs – not with Wrigley Field packed for the home opening game, the thin bullpen on the available pitchers and the team trying to turn the recent road trip in a distant memory.

When a left hamstring problem preoccupied Lester in the third round of the 10-0 loss to the Pirates, the veteran southpaw first convinced manager Joe Maddon to leave him on the mound. After a few more errant shots and a delivery that did not seem right, Maddon starred Lester's afternoon, but not before the starter's teammates took note of his determination.

"We respect that," said Javier Baez. "There's a reason he's out, let's hope it's not that bad."

The Cubs will have more information on Wednesday after further tests on Lester 's leg during the Tuesday scheduled for the team. For the moment, however, the injury does not seem serious. Lester modified his left hamstring while he was running in goals during a six-run swap in the second inning, during which he ran a run with a brace and scored in second place on a simple Ben Zobrist.

Sitting in the Cubs press conference room after Monday's win, Lester noted that he had never felt any noise and that he felt nothing of what he could qualify as pain. What the thrower felt was a cramp, but Maddon was not going to risk leaving Lester longer.

And just when Lester lobbied to continue to launch, he has already planned to stay on schedule.

"In my mind, I'm making my next start," said Lester. "Tomorrow may tell us something different and then we will reevaluate, but I do not think it's so serious, all coaches always think the worst case, I do not feel like it."

As it stands now, the next man for the rotation would be the right-handed Tyler Chatwood , who is currently in the pen. Lefty Mike Montgomery He would usually occupy this place, but he is on the 10-day wounded list with a left problem and can not come back until Monday. In the same way, Cubs would need a starter for Sunday's game against the Angels, if Lester is unable to go.

"I'm just ready to start anytime," Chatwood said. "Let's hope he's fine, he's our horse, we need him."

Maddon did not seem as optimistic as Lester.

"When you go into an MRI tube, it will normally delay the return of things," said Maddon. "Then we will have to find out who will start next."

In the bottom of the second period, Lester scored a double from Bucs, Jameson Taillon. The Cubs starter slipped into second base while Daniel Descalso scored the first point of the day in Chicago. A hitter later, Lester crossed the plate on Zobrist's single, slipping into the house and standing up cautiously. Jason Heyward, who also scored Zobrist's goal, put an arm around the pitcher to see how well he was doing.

Lester said that he had felt a pull in the hamstring while running around the third base – not on either one or the other slide.

Lester took the mound for the third time and quickly allowed a single head to pinch Steven Brault. After his first two pitches, he sailed to Adam Frazier, Maddon and Chief Sports Coach, P.J. Mainville, checked left. Lester remained in the match for three more throws, giving up a single to Frazier before being removed from the match for Brad Brach.

"He spoke to me in [leaving him in], "Maddon said," because I really refer to his veteran right there. It could have been a cramp – I do not know. But, watching him throw the next shot, the next shot I did not like at all. The worst scenario would have been to leave him there, to tackle it, to be even more hurt, then to bring in the pen.

Lester scored just 45 shots and finished with two shutouts, bringing his season-team time to 2.57 in three starts (14 innings). Two of Chicago's three wins in 10 games were won on Lester's days, including Opening Day in Texas. While the throws staff worked hard, its rotating head was one of the few stabilizing forces out of the gates.

"His presence here dissuades many people," said Chatwood. "I think the top three games we've played have been with him from the beginning – I think everyone is stuck when he's out, it's just the kind of person he is." "