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Thursday, April 25, 2024
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Cubs Sports MLB

Jon Lester leaves Cubs’ home opener with hamstring injury in third inning

By  Gordon Wittenmyer
   

Cubs ace Jon Lester left Monday’s home opener at Wrigley Field with left hamstring tightness after pitching two batters in the third inning.

Lester, who pitched two scoreless innings, then singled and eventually scored during a six-run second inning for the Cubs, allowed a leadoff single in the third and after two pitches to the next batter was checked by the manager and trainer.

He remained in the game, but after that batter singled, manager Joe Maddon took Lester out of the game. Brad Brach replaced him.

Lester slid into second and slid home during the bottom of the second. After scoring, he got up slowly after that slide.

Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith and Billy Williams. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith and Billy Williams. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot throwing a ceremonial first pitch. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot throwing a ceremonial first pitch. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Wayne Messmer singing national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Wayne Messmer singing national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Manager Joe Maddon and players line up for the national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Manager Joe Maddon and players line up for the national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Cubs players line up for the national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs players line up for the national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Jeff Garlin and Vince Vaughn talk to Cubs manager Joe Maddon. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Jeff Garlin and Vince Vaughn talk to Cubs manager Joe Maddon. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot talks to Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot talks to Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Actor Jeff Garlin talks to mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the game. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Actor Jeff Garlin talks to mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the game. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Opening Day at Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Opening Day at Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Players take batting practice at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Players take batting practice at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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The crowd at Murphy’s Bleachers. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
The crowd at Murphy’s Bleachers. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Cubs fan Jerry Rucker, aka Santa, watches as players take batting practice. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fan Jerry Rucker, aka Santa, watches as players take batting practice. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Cubs fans watche as players take the field for batting practice. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fans watche as players take the field for batting practice. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Cubs fans gather at Gallagher Way before the home opener.
Cubs fans gather at Gallagher Way before the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times | Sun-Times file photo
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Cubs fans gather at Gallagher Way before the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fans gather at Gallagher Way before the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Fans swarm Wrigley Field hours before the start of the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Fans swarm Wrigley Field hours before the start of the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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The crowd at Murphy’s Bleachers. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
The crowd at Murphy’s Bleachers. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
27 of 31
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Businesses set up outside Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Businesses set up outside Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Chicago Cubs Fans wait in line for the gates to open outside Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs Fans wait in line for the gates to open outside Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Cubs fans arrive at Wrigley Field for the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fans arrive at Wrigley Field for the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
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Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith and Billy Williams. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot throwing a ceremonial first pitch. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Wayne Messmer singing national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Manager Joe Maddon and players line up for the national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs players line up for the national anthem. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates for their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Jeff Garlin and Vince Vaughn talk to Cubs manager Joe Maddon. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot talks to Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Actor Jeff Garlin talks to mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the game. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot before the Cubs home opener on April 8, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Opening Day at Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Players take batting practice at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
The crowd at Murphy’s Bleachers. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fan Jerry Rucker, aka Santa, watches as players take batting practice. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fans watche as players take the field for batting practice. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fans gather at Gallagher Way before the home opener.
Cubs fans gather at Gallagher Way before the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Fans swarm Wrigley Field hours before the start of the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
The crowd at Murphy’s Bleachers. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs host Pittsburgh Pirates on their home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Businesses set up outside Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Chicago Cubs Fans wait in line for the gates to open outside Wrigley Field. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
Cubs fans arrive at Wrigley Field for the home opener. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times

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