After stealing a win from the San Francisco Giants in a game started by Carlos Rodón Friday, the Chicago Cubs sent Marcus Stroman to the bump to face Giants starter Logan Webb looking to pick up a series victory.
The Cubs got off to a good start in the bottom of the first when Ian Happ doubled home Nico Hoerner to give Chicago an early 1-0 lead. However, the Giants struck back quickly in the second, grabbing two runs on a David Villar RBI-double and a Stroman balk that scored Villar.
San Francisco would cap off the second inning with a Joey Bart two-run blast to put the Giants up 4-1. Stroman would not allow another run in his final two innings, but it was just the third time the righty had allowed more than three earned runs in a start since June 3.
The highlight of the game for the Cubs would come in the bottom of the second when Alfonso Rivas would hit a triple that turned into a little league home run off a Villar throwing error. After this, however, Webb and the Giants bullpen would go on to pitch a shutout for the remainder of the afternoon.
The Cubs managed seven hits in the game and took just three at-bats with runners in scoring position. The offense struggled against Webb and the rest of the San Francisco pitching staff.
The Giants added one more run for insurance Villar hit a home run in the eighth, helping the Giants cruise to a 5-2 victory.
Wade Miley will take the hill for Chicago in the rubber match at 7 p.m. CST Sunday at Wrigley Field for Sunday Night Baseball. San Francisco has not announced a starter.
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