The Crowd Roars Back
The hype around Tarik Skubal reached a fever pitch before he even stepped on the mound. Fans booed him just for walking to the bullpen. A plane flew over the park with a banner that read “THE DODGERS RUINED BASEBALL,” though it flew upside down. Then the Cubs took control. They held Skubal to a standstill until he left after six innings. The final score was a satisfying 5-1 win for Chicago in front of 40,584 fans.
Neither team scored in the first inning. Kyle Tucker gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second with a home run to the opposite field. He was booed loudly every time he came to the plate. But the tide turned quickly. Dansby Swanson homered to lead off the third inning to tie the game. Since June, he achieved his first three-hit game by later doubling and singling.
Per Bleed Cubbie Blue, Swanson’s three hits helped defeat the star pitcher. The win felt like a playoff game with the noise and energy at Wrigley Field. The crowd loved every moment of the comeback. Cubs Face Yankees in Rain-Soaked Saturday Showdown at Wrigley covers the wider picture.
Assad Matches the Fire
Javier Assad matched Skubal all evening long. He allowed just four hits over 5.2 innings. He walked Max Muncy in the second but got a double play to end the threat. He struck out Shohei Ohtani in the sixth inning after the star led off with a single. He was removed to a warm ovation from the fans.
Bleed Cubbie Blue reports this start marked the 24th time a Cub pitched at least 5 innings this year.2 innings with no more than one run. One run occurred in the 13th instance, while the seventh involved a homer. Shōta Imanaga has eight of those starts, while Assad and Matthew Boyd have four each. This depth in the rotation is exactly what the team needs to keep winning.
Ryan Rolison came in to relieve Assad and struck out Max Muncy to end the sixth. That set the stage for the Cubs to take the lead. Alex Bregman doubled, sending Seiya Suzuki to third after a walk. Michael Busch hit into a force play that ended Suzuki’s run at the plate, but Bregman took third. Nico Hoerner then drove in the go-ahead run to make it 3-1. (more on that in Cubs vs Yankees Sunday: Wrigley’s Game Thread Is The Real Battle)
Series Momentum Shifts
The Cubs had lost the series opener the day before, falling 10-5 to the Dodgers. That game featured four homers by Chicago but still ended in a loss. This victory changes the mood completely. It proves the team can bounce back against a powerful lineup. The defense was sharp, with Busch making a great stop in the third inning.
The Dodgers have spent massive amounts of money to build this team. Yet, the Cubs held them to just one run. The fans created a hostile environment that clearly rattled the visitors. The plane banner and the constant boos showed how much this rivalry matters in Chicago. The team played with heart and grit.
Now the series is tied. The Cubs have shown they can beat the best pitchers in the league. Swanson’s bat and Assad’s arm were the keys to the night. The team must keep this energy up for the next game. Wrigley Field remains a tough place for any visiting team to win. The Cubs are ready for the next challenge. That story connects to Massive $50 Bonus Stuns Cubs Fans Who Skip This Dodgers Offer.
