The TV cameras caught John Lackey’s read-my-lips moment as he screamed at Christian Bethancourt: “You better [expletive] run!”
The Cubs wanted Lackey’s edgy personality, understanding he doesn’t care at all what the fans or the media think and will let opponents know exactly what he’s thinking on the mound.
Lackey took a perfect game into the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, retiring the first 14 batters he faced before Bethancourt unleashed a vicious swing that would become the difference in a 1-0 game and a doubleheader sweep.
Bethancourt launched Lackey’s 77-mph curveball over the left-field bleachers and the Nuveen advertisement and onto Waveland Avenue.