Ian Happ hit a two-run homer and four Chicago relief pitchers combined to pitch five scoreless innings as the Cubs beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 on Wednesday in the final game of a three-game series.
Chicago’s relief staff looked strong after a brief start from Javier Assad, who gave up two runs and three hits in four innings. Drew Smyly pitched five innings, followed by two innings from Jorge Lopez (2-2) and one inning each from Porter Hodge and Julian Merryweather.
Michael Bush went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored and one walk to lead the Cubs to victory for the sixth time in their last eight games.
Carlos Santana had two hits and one run, but Minnesota lost its second straight game after winning five in a row.
After Twins starter Joe Ryan suffered a strained right triceps while facing Pete “Crowe” Armstrong at home in the top of the third inning, Trevor Richards (2-2) came in as a relief pitcher and Chicago used him to keep control of the game.
Crowe-Armstrong singled, Christian Bethancourt walked Richards, who forced out Happ, and with a runner on third, Happ stole second and Bush walked to load the bases.
Richards walked Seiya Suzuki to add another run and tie the game at 2-2, then Isaac Paredes hit a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch allowed Bush to score and the Cubs took a 4-2 lead.
Nico Hoerner also walked, ending Richards’ day on the mound. The right-hander gave up three runs on one hit and five walks in just 2/3 of an inning.
Cole Sands prevented any further damage by getting Dansby Swanson for an inning-ending force out.
Happ hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 6-2 and effectively seal the game.
Swanson hit a run-scoring single and Bethancourt hit an RBI double in the eighth inning to tie the game.
The two teams traded scores late in the first half, with Minnesota’s Matt Wallner hitting an RBI double and then Bush responding with a solo home run.
Brooks Lee grounded out to home Santana in the second inning and the Twins took a 2-1 lead.
Ryan pitched two-plus innings, allowing one hit and one run, while walking no batters and striking out two.
–Field Level Media
