Soler homers in return to help Lester, Cubs beat A's

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jorge Soler hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat following a two-month absence, Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Friday night.

Dexter Fowler also homered while Javier Baez added a two-run double to help Chicago win its fifth straight. The Cubs also improved to a major league-best 67-41.

Lester pitched for the A's over the final two months of the 2014 season after getting traded from Boston. He returned to the Coliseum for the first time since then and faced a distinctly different Oakland team than the one he left.

Lester (12-4) had eight strikeouts, allowed two runs and nine hits while winning for the third time in his last four starts.

Soler, activated off the disabled list before the game after being out since June 6 with a hamstring injury, celebrating his return to the majors with his home run in the first inning off A's starter Dillon Overton (1-3).

That capped a four-run burst by the Cubs that included Fowler's fifth game-opening home run this season.

Soler also reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Baez's double in the third. Jason Heyward added an RBI single in the inning to help extend Chicago's lead to 7-0.

Brett Eibner, called up from the minors earlier in the day, homered against Lester leading off the sixth for Oakland. Marcus Semien added an RBI single.

Overton allowed seven runs in three innings. The rookie left-hander is winless since beating the Los Angeles Angels in his major league debut June 25.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said the plan is to ease Soler back in and get him some defensive work in the outfield before the team faces another NL team on Aug. 11. ... RHP Joe Nathan was designated for assignment. The 41-year-old was 1-0 in three appearances with the Chicago.

Athletics: Jed Lowrie was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a bunion on his left foot. ... RHP Jesse Hahn also went on the DL with a strained right shoulder. ... RHP Andrew Triggs was called back up from Triple-A Nashville along with Eibner.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (12-5) pitches the middle game of the series at the Coliseum. The Chicago ace has lost three straight decisions.

Athetics: RHP Sonny Gray (5-10) has won only twice in 11 starts since coming off the disabled list. Gray has a 5.57 ERA over that span.