Alex Cobb allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings and Andres Gimenez had three hits and three RBIs as the Cleveland Guardians completed a three-game series sweep of the visiting Chicago Cubs with Wednesday night’s 6-1 victory.
The 36-year-old Cobb (1-1), who yielded five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Minnesota Twins on Friday in his season and Cleveland debut, was much more efficient on Wednesday. He gave up three hits, walked two and fanned three while pitching into the sixth to help the Guardians to a fifth consecutive victory after they lost seven straight.
Meanwhile, Gimenez was the offensive star for the Guardians, breaking the game open with a two-run double in the eighth.
Cleveland scored four times against Chicago starter Jameson Taillon (8-7), who also allowed five hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings.
The Cubs entered their series with the Guardians winners of four straight, but after recording nine hits during Monday’s 9-8, series-opening loss, they totaled two runs and 10 hits over the next two contests.
Five of those hits came on Wednesday, when Chicago went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position to be swept in a series of at least three games for the first time this season.
For the third time in its set with Cleveland, Chicago opened the scoring. This time, Seiya Suzuki roped a triple into left-center field and came home on Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly in the fourth.
However, the Cubs’ lead didn’t last long.
In the bottom of the frame, Taillon walked Jose Ramirez, who scored on Josh Naylor’s double. Naylor later scored on Gimenez’s single for a 2-1 Cleveland edge.
The Guardians added two more runs in the fifth. Steven Kwan reached on a single and scored on Will Brennan’s triple into the right field corner. Ramirez followed with a run-scoring groundout.
–Field Level Media