chicago cubs host the boston red sox Rubber match of the first series of both the teams after the All-Star break on Sunday
After an 8–3 loss on Friday, in which five different Boston batters took the loss, Chicago evened the series 10–4 on Saturday.
Cody Bellinger hit a third inning grand slam that gave cub 6-0 lead. The margin was never less than five runs the rest of the way
Chicago manager David Ross said of Bellinger, “He’s gotten better than I expected since he’s been here.” “He’s the whole package, isn’t he? Defense, clubhouse presence, at-bats. And the power is showing.”
Bellinger struck out twice in Friday’s loss and is hitting .476 (20-for-42) in the month of July.
Every Chicago batter connected for at least one hit in Saturday’s win. The five runs were led by Bellinger, who had four RBIs on his way to his eighth career grand slam. Patrick Wisdom drove in two runs with a home run in the fourth inning, and Nico Hoerner, Christopher Morrell, and Miguel Amaya each had an RBI.
cub All-Star left-hander Justin Steele (9-2, 2.56 ERA) looks to lead Chicago to a series win on Sunday. Steele has won each of his last three starts in which he has earned a decision, although his most recent outing – a six-inning appearance at National League Central rival Milwaukee on July 5 – was a no decision.
Steele went 4–3 in that contest, giving up three earned runs and nine hits. cub win. Both were the most runs given up by Steele since giving up 10 hits and five earned runs against Cincinnati on May 26.
The appearance against Cincinnati was the Steele’s most recent loss. Steel faced for the first time on Sunday red Sox
Right-hander Kutter Crawford (3-4, 4.11) will take the field against Boston for his first career appearance. cub
Crawford last pitched on July 6 against Texas, allowing three runs and seven hits over four innings without a decision.
The right-hander has struck out 58 in 61 1/3 innings on the season and has won two of his three starts in his final four starts before the All-Star break in 2023.
Boston aims to bounce back from its first loss since July 4 red Sox He had won six games in a row before Saturday’s shock
“People make a big deal out of a game,” red Sox said manager Alex Cora. “We’ll come in (Sunday) and play good baseball. We just didn’t make a play (Saturday) and that’s it. We walk twice, we hit a man, we don’t make the play, they score six (runs).
By scoring six runs in the third innings on Saturday, the cub Tied the most runs scored by an opponent in a single game during Boston’s most recent win. The 10 runs scored by Chicago were only two less than the total scored by Boston in the previous four games.
Although red Sox In five games above .500, Saturday’s loss dropped Boston to last place in the American League East
–Field Level Media