WATCH: 38-year-old Cubs pitcher John Lackey steals second base

Lackey singled off Homer Bailey in the bottom of the fourth. He took off early (and unexpectedly) on an 0-1 count and slid to beat Bailey’s throw.

"When I got the hit, (first base coach Brandon) Hyde said, 'Do you want to steal a base,'" Lackey said. "I said, 'Heck no, I'm tired.' But after the first pitch, nobody was really watching me and it was pretty easy so I went ahead and went."

In Lackey’s defense, he played in the American League from 2002-2014 (Los Angeles, Boston), so opportunities to wreck the base paths were scarce. He didn’t even reach base until 2009.

Additionally, Lackey held Reds first baseman Joey Votto to a 1-for-3 day, snapping his streak of reaching base twice in 20 consecutive games. Ted Williams holds the record at 21 games.

He retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.

Lackey is 5-0 with a 3.06 ERA over his last six starts, regaining form in time for the Cubs’ postseason push.