Cincinnati gave starter Alfredo Simon a 1-0 lead in the first when Hamilton doubled and eventually scored on Jay Bruce's sacrifice fly. But the Cubs made Simon work, and he was pulled after throwing 49 pitches over two-thirds of an inning, the shortest outing of his career.
The results were much better for Lackey, whose last start at Wrigley Field was Oct. 13 in Game 4 of the National League Division Series for the Cardinals, when he served up four runs over three innings and took the loss. On Wednesday he was charged with two runs over 6 2/3 innings, and received a standing ovation from the crowd as he came off the field.