CHICAGO — Matthew Boyd delivered seven strong innings to notch his eighth win of the season, while Seiya Suzuki launched his team-best 23rd home run as the Chicago Cubs beat the struggling Cleveland Guardians 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Carson Kelly contributed with two doubles and a sacrifice fly, driving in three runs, and Michael Busch went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI as the Cubs secured their 50th win, continuing to lead the NL Central.
For Cleveland, Carlos Santana reached a milestone with his 400th career double and added another hit, but the team’s offensive woes continued, suffering their fifth straight loss.
The Guardians finally ended a 17-inning scoreless streak with a two-run fourth inning thanks to Nolan Jones’ RBI single and Angel Martínez’s sac fly — but they’ve managed runs in just two of their last 45 innings.
Boyd (8-3) gave up only two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking one, retiring the last 11 batters he faced before turning things over to the bullpen. Daniel Palencia closed it out with a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Cleveland starter Gavin Williams (5-4) struggled, allowing four runs across seven hits and four walks.
Chicago jumped to a 3-0 lead in a bizarre second inning featuring four straight hits and some baserunning chaos, including two Cubs getting picked off at first. Suzuki later extended the lead with a solo homer in the sixth.
Turning Point:
Cleveland showed life in the fourth inning, but Boyd halted the rally by picking off Nolan Jones and inducing a groundout from Bo Naylor.
Notable Stat:
Boyd now has 12 quality starts in 17 outings and is just one win shy of matching his career high of nine, achieved in both 2018 and 2019 with Detroit.
Next Game:
The series continues Wednesday as Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (4-8, 3.80 ERA) takes on Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga (4-2, 2.54 ERA).
