Longtime Orioles manager Earl Weaver used to say his team won with “pitching, defense and three-run homers.”
The Cubs got the first two of those Thursday afternoon in Baltimore, and while they didn’t hit any three-run homers, three solo home runs were just enough to give the Cubs a 3-2 win over the O’s — but only because a great defensive play ended the game. It was the Cubs’ third win in a row and second straight by that score.
The Cubs got yet another fine outing from Adrian Sampson, and he helped keep the game scoreless in the fifth with a nifty fielding play.