The Cubs returned to Wrigley Field Tuesday in need of sort of a pick-me-up after a 13-13 June and having lost seven of their last 11.
They got exactly what they needed: Excellent pitching, both starting and relieving; timely hitting; and the usual good defense. All of that added up to a 5-2 Cubs win over the Guardians in the opener of a three-game series on an absolutely gorgeous weather evening at the North Side ballyard.
Matthew Boyd pitched around traffic in the first two innings. One of the outs was a strikeout of an old nemesis of his, José Ramirez, on a 96 mile per hour fastball [VIDEO].