The excitement that Chicago Cubs fans have felt since the team's signing of their new ace, Jon Lester, came to fruition Friday afternoon as the left-hander made his unofficial Cubs debut in the team's Spring Training game with the Cincinnati Reds. Lester was nearly perfect in his two innings of work, but the Reds put up a five-run seventh inning and won the game 5-2.

Lester faced six batters in his two innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. A double-play ended the second inning and allowed Lester to leave having faced the minimum number of hitters for his outing.

MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reminds us that Cubs manager Joe Maddon has already named Lester the Opening Night starter when the Cubs host their bitterest of rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, on Sunday night, April 5. That broadcast will air on ESPN beginning at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

After finishing his two innings, Lester went to the bullpen to get in more work, displaying the team leadership that he brings with him from Boston and Oakland. Muskat quoted Maddon discussing his new pitcher, who is an ace both on the mound and in the clubhouse. Said Maddon,

"He's been Jon Lester. I think he's a guy who leads by example although if he were to say something, everybody does listen. He's been that guy; he's been exactly what I expected -- a consummate pro, quiet in his own way."

Unfortunately for the Cubs, the bullpen could not hold the slim 1-0 lead that shortstop Jonathan Herrera gave them with his RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. The Reds exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh, capped by Brennan Boesch's three-run home run (1) off reliever Brian Schlitter (L: 0-1. 45.00 ERA). Schlitter allowed all five runs on four hits and a walk in his one inning of work.

Carlos Contreras (W: 1-0, 0.00) pitched a perfect sixth inning with two strikeouts to pick up the win. He was the fourth of seven Reds pitchers and one of five who did not allow a run. The Cubs scored off Pedro Villarreal in the fifth and Ismael Guillon in the eighth (Christian Villanueva sacrifice fly).

Daniel Corcino (S: 1) pitched a perfect ninth and struck out the Cubs' top prospect, slugging third baseman Kris Bryant, to end the game and notch his first save of the spring.

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About the author
Raymond Bureau
Raymond became a baseball fan at a very young age. He played baseball through high school and soon after became a varsity coach. He is now the P.A. announcer at his high school where he teaches. Raymond previously produced radio sports talk shows and hosted a weekly MLB radio call-in show. His favorite teams are the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. Raymond is a devoted husband, father, and Christ follower. His life verses are Philippians 4:13, John 14:6, and Isaiah 41:10.