It’s no secret Jon Lester struggles with picking off runners on the basepaths.
But during spring training, Chicago Cubs third base coach Brian Butterfield worked with Lester to perfect a bounce pass in order to help the pitcher in his attempts to pick off runners.
Lester got to test this pass Thursday in the first inning of the Cubs’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Braun walked and promptly stole second. Knowing the pitcher has issues with throwing out runners, Braun tried his luck in stealing third.
And that’s when Lester bounced the ball to third baseman Kris Bryant, who placed the tag on Braun to get the out.
#FreeOuts pic.twitter.com/FnY9UtpIR4
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 6, 2018
The Brewers have stolen five bases off Lester in his two starts against the team in 2015 and 2016. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said his team would be aggressive on the base path Thursday knowing the lefty was on the mound.
