Baez became the first Cubs player to hit multiple home runs on Opening Day since Corey Patterson accomplished the feat in 2003, and just the seventh player all-time to do so in a Cubs uniform. He infielder drove in four runs and scored twice in the victory.
Other than a third inning home run, Lester was strong, giving up four hits and striking out three batters in six innings of work.
The Rangers got on the board first in the third inning when Elvis Andrus launched a two-run homer to give them a 2-0 lead, but from there the Cubs scored a staggering 12 unanswered runs. Baez’s solo home run in the fourth inning got Chicago on the board, and then a six-run fifth inning gave Chicago the lead.
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Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by Jason Heyward #22 following a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on August 26, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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RHP Brad Brach: 2-4 record, 3.59 ERA, 60 K's in 2018
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RHP Tyler Chatwood: 4-6 record, 5.30 ERA, 85 K's in 2018
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RHP Steve Cishek: 4-3 record, 2.18 ERA, 78 K's in 2018
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RHP Yu Darvish: 1-3 record, 4.95 ERA, 49 K's in 2018
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RHP Carl Edwards Jr.: 3-2 record, 2.60 ERA, 67 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Cole Hamels: 9-12 record, 3.78 ERA, 188 K's in 2018 season
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RHP Kyle Hendricks: 14-11 record, 3.44 ERA, 161 K's in 2018 season
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RHP Brandon Kintzler: 3-3 record, 4.60 ERA, 43 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Jon Lester: 18-6 record, 3.32 ERA, 149 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Mike Montgomery: 5-6 record, 3.99 ERA, 86 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Jose Quintana: 13-11 record, 4.03 ERA, 158 K's in 2018 season
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LHP Randy Rosario: 4-0 record, 3.66 ERA, 30 K's in 2018 season
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RHP Pedro Strop: 6-1 record, 2.26 ERA, 57 K's in 2018 season
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C Victor Caratini: .232 AVG., 2 HR, 21 RBI in 2018 season
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C Willson Contreras: .249 AVG., 10 HR, 54 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Javier Baez: .290 AVG., 34 HR, 111 RBI in 2018 season
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INF David Bote: .239 AVG., 6 HR, 33 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Kris Bryant: .272 AVG., 13 HR, 52 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Daniel Descalso: .238 AVG., 13 HR, 57 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Anthony Rizzo: .283 AVG., 25 HR, 101 RBI in 2018 season
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INF Ben Zobrist: .305 AVG., 9 HR, 58 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Albert Almora Jr.: .286 AVG., 5 HR, 41 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Jason Heyward: .270 AVG., 8 HR, 57 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Kyle Schwarber: .238 AVG., 26 HR, 61 RBI in 2018 season
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OF Mark Zagunis: .400 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 2018 season
Jason Heyward drove in a run on an RBI infield single, and then Mark Zagunis hit an RBI double to make it a 3-2 game. After Kris Bryant hit an RBI groundout to shortstop, Baez unloaded on a three-run home run to right field to make it a 7-2 game.
The Cubs continued to add runs in unconventional ways in the later stages of the game, as Albert Almora Jr.’s infield single and Anthony Rizzo’s bases loaded walk both drove in runs. Bryant did hit his first home run of the season to right field to make it 12-2, and that was more than enough as the Cubs cruised to victory.
The Cubs and Rangers will take a day off from their series before resuming hostilities on Saturday, as former Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish will take the hill for the second game of a three-game set.
