CHICAGO _ With the knowledge he wouldn't be penalized for his home plate collision Monday night with catcher Austin Hedges, Anthony Rizzo continued his mastery of the leadoff spot when he hit a home run in the first inning Tuesday night as the Cubs coasted to a 4-0 victory over the Padres at breezy Wrigley Field.
Rizzo smacked a 1-0 pitch off Jhoulys Chacin, marking the seventh consecutive game he has reached base safely while leading off and extending his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. The first of Addison Russell's two singles scored Kris Bryant in the fourth and Ian Happ added a homer in the eighth.
Left-hander Mike Montgomery allowed three hits in six innings. With an extra day of rest, Montgomery was stronger as the outfield didn't record a putout until Happ caught a fly in center for the first out of the fifth. Carl Edwards Jr. struck out Matt Szczur with two runners on base to end the seventh.
Willson Contreras started in left field for the first time this season. The Cubs' shift on Chacin failed when Chacin singled past the hole vacated by second baseman Javier Baez, who was occupying first base as part of a bunt defense.
