Much improved at the plate, Jon Lester homers for Cubs

When Cubs left-hander Jon Lester was in the American League with the Red Sox and Athletics, his only duty was to pitch.

He didn’t care about hitting and didn’t sweat his swing too much even in interleague games. In fact, Lester said he only would start taking batting practice a week before playing in a National League park.

That showed when he played in the AL and carried over to the beginning of his tenure with the Cubs. He began his career 0-for-66 before finally getting his first hit in 2015.

Since then, however, Lester has improved greatly at the plate. He offered more proof of that when he hit a three-run home run against Twins starter Lance Lynn in an eight-run second inning Sunday.

‘‘Close your eyes enough and swing hard enough, you’ll eventually run into one,’’ a joking Lester said. ‘‘No, it’s cool. Obviously, being over here and actually having to be responsible for that 9-hole, it’s important. It’s important to have good at-bats. I feel like I’ve done that, regardless of the outcome. I’ve had good at-bats and haven’t been just a one-pitch-out guy.’’

Lester’s improvement has given him two career homers and seven RBI this season. He knows he can change the game with his bat, whether it’s by hitting a homer or by laying down a bunt.

‘‘I feel like I worked on my bunting a lot, and I feel like I’m pretty good at that,’’ Lester said. ‘‘The hitting stuff will always be a bonus.’’

On the mound, Lester went five-plus innings and allowed four runs (two earned) to win his NL-best 11th game. He has won seven consecutive starts, the first Cubs pitcher to do that since Jake Arrieta won eight in a row in August-September 2015.

Russell exits

Shortstop Addison Russell left the game after colliding with third baseman Javy Baez while both were chasing a pop-up by the Twins’ Eduardo Escobar down the third-base line in the sixth inning.

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Russell’s left hand and middle finger — the same one that had been bothering him — was stepped on during the play.

Manager Joe Maddon said he thought it was possible Russell could play Tuesday against the Tigers, but he wasn’t sure.

Swing big

Baez has been mentioned as a potential contestant for the Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities.

Some worry the event can affect a player’s swing, but Maddon wasn’t having any of that and endorsed Baez’s participation, saying people watching would enjoy his presence as much as Baez would enjoy being there.

‘‘It gives me something to do on that Monday night; I’ll be watching that,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘I have no issues with that, especially our guys not being long in the tooth. I think they can handle something like that.’’

This and that

The Cubs put left-hander Brian Duensing on the 10-day disabled list with fatigue in his pitching shoulder and recalled right-hander Dillon Maples from Class AAA Iowa.

• Actor/comedian Jeff Garlin sang the seventh-inning stretch with Itamar Steiner, the Cubs’ 40th-round draft pick.