CINCINNATI (AP) – Austin Jackson drove in a career-high five runs and Jon Lester set a Chicago season record for strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher, leading the playoff-bound Cubs to a 10-3 victory over the last-place Reds Wednesday, their fourth straight win, and the 11th straight loss for Cincinnati, equaling the Reds’ longest losing streak since dropping 12 straight in 1993.
The Cubs will play the Pirates in next week’s NL wild-card game, as St. Louis clinched the NL Central Wednesday.
Lester’s strikeout of Ivan De Jesus Jr. in the fifth inning was his 203rd of the season, snapping the franchise record for a left-hander set by Ken Holtzman in 1970. Lester (11-12) finished with nine strikeouts and retired the last 20 batters he faced.
Starlin Castro homered and had four hits for Chicago.
Anthony DeSclafani (9-13) allowed five runs in five innings.