A routine play turned into a bizarre pitcher-to-first exchange Sunday for the Cubs.
Clint Barmes of the Padres hit a ground ball back to pitcher Jon Lester, who could not get the ball out of his glove. So he ran toward first and shoveled the glove with the ball inside to Anthony Rizzo. In the meantime, Rizzo dropped his first baseman’s mitt to accept Lester’s glove and ball.
“Obviously it’s not something you draw up,” Lester said. “I was more surprised I caught the ball than anything. Then obviously when you go to grab it and it’s not there. … I thought I missed it or I knocked it down or something. It was kind of the mad scramble there to figure out what was going on. And obviously it all happened in a couple of seconds. I would have liked to have gotten a double play, but I will settle for an out.
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“I never had to do that before, but an out’s an out. I’ll take it any way I can. I think (Rizzo) understood what was going on. He dropped his glove. You just hope that when you throw the glove like that, that the ball stays in it, which it did. It’s one of those weird things in baseball.”
Disco time: Rookie third baseman Kris Bryant recorded his first major-league hit and RBI Saturday as he went 2-for-3 with three walks in the 7-6, 11-inning victory.
Rizzo made sure the Cubs celebrated the victory — and Bryant’s feat — properly with blaring music and a light show in the clubhouse.
“Coming into the clubhouse (after the game) I saw smoke and the lights were turned off and lights were going everywhere, blinking,” Bryant said. “I was like, what’s going on in here? It kind of caught me off guard, but it was super fun. … I sure hope to be partying in the disco clubhouse a lot this year.”
Roster moves: Outfielder Matt Szczur was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Gonzalez Germen and moved pitcher Jacob Turner to the 60-day disabled list.
Extra innings: The Cubs have stolen 13 bases this season, tops in the NL. … Jorge Soler leads the team with nine RBIs. … Bryant recorded his first extra-base hit, a double in the fifth inning. … Padres manager Bud Black was tossed by plate umpire James Hoye in the second inning.