Game Recap: Cubs knock off Yankees to finish first half in first place

Gregory Fisher - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 8 hours ago

BRONX - Given how this six-game road trip started, this had an opportunity to be an ugly finish to what has otherwise been an impressive first half. Then came the second half of this road trip, where the Chicago Cubs (57-39) won three of their final four games, including back-to-back games against the New York Yankees (53-43) at Yankee Stadium to close out the first half with a 3-3 trip.

That was the goal coming into this week, and although it may not have happened the way many expected it to, the Cubs accomplished their goal as they took down the Yankees 4-1 in their series finale on Sunday. As was the case on Saturday, this game was all about the pitching as Shota Imanaga delivered his best start of the season.

It may have taken 12 starts, but this was the Imanaga of old and the one the Cubs have been waiting for as the left-hander gave the Cubs seven innings of one-run, two-hit baseball. He walked one and struck out six, and the Cubs are hoping this is a sign of what is to come for the second half.

Facing Imanaga was Will Warren as his up-and-down campaign continued. When you looked at the pitching matchups for this weekend, this was the game you expected the Cubs to win, and with Warren allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings, he did his part, but it was the Yankees whose offense was held in check.

For the third time in as many games, Craig Counsell with a new-look lineup, and once again, it worked in his favor. This time, it was Michael Busch leading off instead of Nico Hoerner, and one batter into the game, the Cubs had the lead as Busch connected for his first career leadoff homer to put the Cubs on top 1-0.

That was the start of what could have been a huge inning as a Kyle Tucker walk, and Seiya Suzuki single followed that homer, only to have Warren escape trouble by getting Carson Kelly to ground into a double play. Chicago continued to keep the pressure on in the second as singles from Ian Happ and Vidal Brujan set the offense up, but once again, Warren was able to escape without damage.

Against an offense as potent as the Yankees', you never want to give away scoring chances like that, as one swing from Giancarlo Stanton in the second made this a 1-1 game. Not only was that the only run of the day for the Yankees, but it was also one of the two hits Imanaga allowed as he was lights out throughout his start.

Already with two wasted scoring chances, Warren was on the ropes again in the fourth, with Kelly leading off the inning with a single before a walk to Happ put a pair of runners on base and no outs. Once again, the Cubs' offense came up empty as they continued to struggle to find the big hit.

That hit finally came in the sixth, and it came after Kelly started things off once again with a leadoff double to set the Cubs offense up. That sparked a pitching change for Aaron Boone as he went to his bullpen and called on Ian Hamilton to replace Warren. The very first batter Hamilton faced was Dansby Swanson and the veteran shortstop delivered in a massive way as he took Hamilton deep for the Cubs second homer of the game to put the Cubs back on top for good 3-1.

As bad as things have been for Swanson this season, he has quietly put together a strong finish to the first half as his average is back above .250 and has 16 homers to go with 47 RBIs. Apart from that second inning, the Yankees not only were held without a hit, but were also held hitless until Austin Wells led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Well was not only erased from the bases on a double play, but that single was the final base runner of the day for New York in what was an extremely quiet offensive afternoon.

Hoping to add some much-needed insurance runs for the Cubs' pen, Suzuki did his job by taking Tim Hill the opposite way for a two-out double to extend the Cubs' seventh inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong followed that up with a hustling infield single, but the key to that play was the hustling Suzuki, who scored all the way from second base on that single to extend the Cubs' lead to 4-1.

That would be all the offense the Cubs would need as Drew Pomeranz and Daniel Palencia took over for Imanaga in the eighth and proceeded to retire all six hitters they faced to lift the Cubs to a 4-1 win. With the win, Chicago is guaranteed to be in first place at the break as they will hold a narrow one-game lead over the suddenly scorching hot Milwaukee Brewers.

Chicago had 10 hits in the victory with Kelly, Swanson, and Suzuki all coming away with two hits. Next up for the Cubs is four off days while Matthew Boyd, Tucker, and Crow-Armstrong will head to Atlanta to enjoy the All-Star game.