Cubs defeat Reds, clinch NLDS home field

CHICAGO — The postseason is two weeks away, and even though the National League Central-champion Cubs are waiting for other teams to get in, pitcher Jon Lester’s foot is nowhere close to lifting off the gas. Not only did Lester pitch seven robust innings to pick up his NL-high 18th win, he provided the game’s first run with a rocket of an RBI double in a 6-1 victory over the Reds on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Now 18-4 with a 2.36 ERA, Lester is 9-0 with a 1.46 ERA over his last 12 starts after he allowed one run, six hits, no walks, one hit batter and struck out five. According to MLB Network research, that makes him the third Cubs left-handed pitcher to win nine consecutive decisions, joining him with Jack Pfiester (10 in 1908-09) and Ken Holtzman (nine in 1967).

With the Nationals losing to Miami, the 96-55 Cubs’ magic number to clinch the top seed in the NL postseason dropped to three. They’re assured of home-field advantage in the NL Division Series after the Dodgers lost to the Giants later Tuesday night.

“This is the guy you were going to get when you signed him to the deal he signed,” said Cubs catcher David Ross, who scored on Lester’s double. “This was a guy that I know and I expected him to pitch like this. I think he expects to pitch like this. He’s pitching really well and it’s nice. It’s just one of many guys who are throwing good on the staff.”

Lester, who’s allowed one or zero runs in a career-high seven straight starts, thought his stuff wasn’t quite up to par to what it’s been recently. Regardless, he still held the Reds in check.

“He has to be off his game almost more than we have to be on our game,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “He stays out of the middle, he’s as good a fastball command pitcher [as there is in the game]. He had a fairly large zone to work with, I thought, tonight and did a good job of taking advantage of it. He didn’t really give us anything with which to drive.”

In a game where all relievers pitched for the Reds, Josh Smith started and allowed one earned run and three hits over three innings while throwing 66 pitches. 

Once Smith exited and rookie lefty Wandy Peralta took over for the fourth, the game blew open with four runs scored. Dexter Fowler hit an RBI single and Kris Bryant’s popup in short right field was misplayed by first baseman Joey Votto and went for an …

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