Giants Beat Cubs as Verlander Shines in Series Opener
Giants Top Cubs Behind Verlander’s Strong Outing, Extend Win Streak
SAN FRANCISCO – Justin Verlander remained unbeaten against the Chicago Cubs, improving to 3-0 in his career after guiding the San Francisco Giants to a 6-2 victory on Tuesday night.
The 41-year-old right-hander worked six innings, allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out five and walking two. With his first strikeout of the evening—against Kyle Tucker in the opening frame—Verlander reached 100 strikeouts on the season, marking the 17th year of his career with triple-digit strikeouts.
The Giants’ bullpen sealed the win as Joey Lucchesi, Jose Butto, and Ryan Walker combined for three shutout innings. Walker worked around a one-out single from Dansby Swanson in the ninth to earn his 12th save. The win was San Francisco’s third straight.
Chicago jumped ahead early with RBI singles from Matt Shaw and Carson Kelly, but the Giants rallied in the fifth. Luis Matos scored on a two-out double from Heliot Ramos, who then crossed the plate on Rafael Devers’ go-ahead single.
Matt Chapman added insurance in the sixth with a two-run homer, chasing Cubs starter Matthew Boyd (12-7) from the game. Boyd was tagged for five runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out eight.
Wilmer Flores also homered for San Francisco, his 14th of the season, opening the scoring in the second inning. Ramos finished with three hits, including a double, while Flores scored twice. The win marked just the Giants’ third at Oracle Park in their last 18 home games.
For Chicago, Pete Crow-Armstrong collected a double and a single, but the Cubs’ momentum stalled after sweeping the Angels to open their nine-game road trip. The loss, coupled with Milwaukee’s 9-8 victory over Arizona, dropped the Cubs 6 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central race.
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