Schmidt and Cortes combine for a 4-hitter as the Yankees again knock off the Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Clarke Schmidt and Nestor Cortes combined for four hits and the New York Yankees secured their 32nd consecutive winning season with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Schmidt pitched 4 2/3 innings with four hits in his first major league game since May 26. Cortes (9-10) finished the game in his first relief appearance since 2021.

Schmidt had to be taken out of action due to a strain of his right latissimus. He threw 75 pitches, 44 of which were strikes.

New York posted its second consecutive shutout and secured its first series victory since August 23-25, when it won two of three games against Colorado. The 32 consecutive one-win seasons are the second-longest such period in major league history, behind a streak of 39 consecutive seasons by the Yankees from 1926-64.

New York (82-60) was half a game behind AL East leader Baltimore before Saturday's games.