Horton dominates on the hill as Cubs Down Blue Jays
The Chicago Cubs emerged victorious in a thrilling match against the Toronto Blue Jays, with Michael Busch and Matt Shaw hitting solo home runs to secure a 4-1 win at Rogers Center on Wednesday evening.
The game saw Chicago starter Cad Horton deliver a dominant performance, holding the Blue Jays without a hit until Andres Gimenez managed to get on base in the sixth inning. Horton, one of the standout rookies in the National League this season, showcased his skills by striking out the first 10 Blue Jays in order before eventually walking Bo Bichette in the fourth inning.
Horton’s stellar outing was cut short after he issued a walk to Bichette in the sixth inning. Relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge came in and allowed a RBI double to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before retiring Addison Barger with a fly-out.
In a concerning moment for the Cubs, catcher Miguel Amaya had to be taken off the field on a cart in the eighth inning after appearing to injure his left leg while running to first base. Despite this setback, Chicago managed to score two insurance runs in the same inning to secure the victory.
On the opposing side, Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman put in a solid performance, allowing three hits and two earned runs over seven innings of work. Gausman recorded three strikeouts and one walk during his outing.
The Cubs outplayed the Blue Jays, outhitting them 6-2 in a game that drew a sold-out crowd of 43,120 fans. The contest lasted a brisk two hours and 27 minutes.
An important moment in the game came when Blue Jays third-base coach Carlos Flesble decided to hold Bichette at third base on Guerrero’s double in the left field corner. This cautious approach was in response to a previous night’s incident where Ty France was thrown out at home plate after testing the arm of Cubs left fielder Ian Happ.
A key stat from the game was Horton surrendering the only run for the Blue Jays, ending his impressive streak of 28 2/3 scoreless innings. Despite this, Horton still managed to record eight strikeouts.
In other news, shortstop Jojo Parker expressed his excitement about settling in at the Blue Jays’ player development complex after being drafted by the team with the eighth overall pick in the MLB draft. The 19-year-old Mississippi high schooler is eager to learn and develop under the guidance of the team’s coaches.
Looking ahead, the Cubs and the Blue Jays are set to close out their three-game interleague series on Thursday afternoon. Right-handed Max Scherzer is slated to start for the Blue Jays, while left-handed Matthew Boyd will take the mound for the Cubs. It promises to be another exciting matchup between these two talented teams.
