Cubs look to continue power display in finale vs. Red Sox
After winning its fourth straight game with a 6-0 victory on Saturday, Chicago (59-39) now owns the major league's best record. The Cubs have allowed just four runs across the four-game stretch and the team has outscored the Red Sox 10-1 through the first two contests of the series.
Five different Chicago batters belted a solo home run on Saturday, including Michael Busch, who reached the 20-homer mark for the second time in as many years with the club.
"He's just become a complete hitter. I think that's probably the best way to put it," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of Busch. "He's just dangerous, I think the other teams are starting to really be on that. He's a combination of a good hitter, good plate discipline and power. I don't know what else I can add to that. Those three things are pretty darn good, so he's having a heck of a season."
Joining Busch in the home run party on Saturday were Kyle Tucker, Matt Shaw, Pete Crow-Armstong and Ian Happ. The Cubs' 148 home runs lead the National League and rank second in the majors (New York Yankees, 155).
On the mound, four straight stellar performances have lowered Chicago's team ERA to 3.77 -- a trend Cade Horton (3-3, 4.45 ERA) hopes to extend on Sunday.
Horton, 23, is scheduled to make the 11th start of his rookie season and looks to post his first victory since June 3. Last time out, Horton allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Horton will face the Red Sox for the first time in his young big league career.
After taking a 10-game winning streak into the All-Star break, the Red Sox appear to have fallen back to earth in Chicago. Boston has mustered one run on just two extra-base hits in 18 innings against the Cubs.
"We didn't do enough, obviously, to get traffic. We just didn't do a good enough job," said Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, who is 1-for-8 in the series.
"We came in here playing pretty good baseball and just got beat these first two games. But the best part about baseball is that you get to go out there again tomorrow and get after it. I think we've got a lot of confidence in this group and we'll try to get it rolling again."
The Red Sox hope All-Star Garrett Crochet (10-4, 2.23 ERA) can serve as their stopper on Sunday.
Crochet has allowed just two runs in 14 innings in July. The 26-year-old lefty threw a complete-game shutout last time out in a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on July 12. The former White Sox ace is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Cubs.
--Field Level Media
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