Schwarber slides, pops, nails runner at 2nd

CHICAGO -- Thanks to Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras, Cubs pitcher Jon Lester faced the minimum in the first inning of a 1-0 loss to the Indians on Wednesday night despite giving up two hits.
Francisco Lindor led off the game with a single to left field but was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double. Schwarber slid and cut the ball off, popped up and delivered a strike to second for the first out. It was Schwarber's fourth outfield assist of the year.
"That ball was hit down the line pretty well and I just wanted to get to it quickly, cut it off and get it in as quickly as possible," Schwarber said. "I was able to make an accurate throw, and [second baseman Javier Báez] with a great tag there. I don't know if a lot of people make that tag there."
"Schwarbs is moving around really well in left field," manager Joe Maddon said. "The fact that he got to the ball, slid and got up and made that throw against Lindor, that makes it even more impressive."
After a Michael Brantley single, Lester struck out José Ramírez and Contreras caught Brantley trying to steal second base for the final out of the frame. Contreras has caught seven baserunners stealing this season on 21 attempts.

"Schwarbs changes that whole inning right there with that great play," Lester said. "Same thing on the 3-2 [count] double play in the first. That's a huge turn right there."