Yankees 3-0 Cubs (September 6, 2024) Match Report

CHICAGO – Luis Gil threw six brilliant innings in his return from a back injury and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Friday.

Aaron Judge hit an RBI double and scored on Austin Wells' two-run single as New York scored three runs in the third inning in its first game at Wrigley Field since 2017. Judge went 1 for 3 with a walk in his 10th consecutive game without a home run – his longest streak of the season.

The Yankees (81-60) improved their record to 2-2 after a six-game road trip that began with a difficult series at Texas. They trailed AL East leader Baltimore by a half-game before Friday's game.

It was New York's first clean sheet since August 23 against Colorado and their 12th of the entire season.

“It was a good day,” manager Aaron Boone said.

The Cubs (72-69) lost for the third time in four games since they returned to the race for the third NL wild card thanks to a successful away tour.

“I thought Gil threw the ball well, but we should have done better,” manager Craig Counsell said. “No leadoff hitters on base. No multiple men on base in an inning. That's obviously a difficult formula to even score.”

Chicago left-hander Jordan Wicks (2-3), in his second start since returning from a strained right oblique, allowed five hits and four walks in five innings. The Cubs' lineup was also stalled by Gil (13-6) and three relievers on a windy afternoon.

Gil allowed Chicago's only hit – Cody Bellinger's double in the fourth inning – in his first major league start since Aug. 20. The right-hander struck out seven times and walked two.

“The more innings I pitched, the better I felt,” Gil said through an interpreter. “I felt more comfortable, looser on the mound. The arm felt good and was in a good rhythm.”

Gil was placed on the 15-day injured list last month with a back strain. He has now pitched 130 2/3 innings, which is a career-high, after missing most of the last two seasons because of Tommy John surgery.

“It took him a little while to get the heater going, but I thought it improved the whole game,” Boone said.

Jake Cousins ​​​​and Tommy Kahnle each threw an inning for New York before Luke Weaver pitched the ninth inning for his first save in 199 major league appearances. The Yankees are turning to closer-by-committee after Clay Holmes gave up a game-ending grand slam in a 7-4 loss at Texas on Tuesday night.

Anthony Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first game at Wrigley since being traded from Chicago to New York in July 2021. The great first baseman, who helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series, received a warm welcome that was accompanied by several standing ovations from the crowd.

“It was just cool to be here. Lots of smiles,” Rizzo said. “It was great to hear the break in the seventh inning and see Wrigley just being Wrigley.”

TRAINING ROOM

Yankees: It was Wells' first game since being hit by a pitch near his right wrist in an 8-4 win at Texas on Monday night.

Next

Right-handers Clarke Schmidt (5-3, 2.52 ERA) and Javier Assad (7-4, 3.21 ERA) will be on the mound on Saturday. Schmidt will make his first major league start since May 26 for New York. He was sidelined with a strained right latissimus. Assad has a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in his last three starts for Chicago.

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