Alex Cobb earned his first win in nearly a year and Andrés Giménez drove in three runs, sending the American League-leading Cleveland Guardians to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
José Ramírez, Josh Naylor and Will Brennan also had RBIs for Cleveland, which swept the three-game series and extended its winning streak to five. The Guardians are 72-49 and have the best home record in the majors at 38-20.
Cleveland’s current surge began after it lost a season-high seven straight from Aug. 3-9.
Cobb (1-1) allowed one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and two walks, picking up his first win since a one-hitter for San Francisco against Cincinnati last Aug. 29.
The 36-year-old had left hip surgery last Oct. 31 and was traded to Cleveland on July 30. Right-hander Cobb and lefty Matthew Boyd -- another in-season acquisition coming back from a major injury -- combined to pitch 11 innings over two days.
Jameson Taillon (8-7) allowed four runs in six innings as the Cubs lost their third straight following a four-game win streak. Chicago is 5 1/2 games out of a National League wild-card spot.
Chicago had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Seiya Suzuki tripled high off the center-field wall and scored on Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly. The Cubs managed just five hits against four Guardians pitchers.
Bellinger has exclusively played DH in 13 games since returning from a broken finger on July 30, but Counsell said he is likely to return to center field this weekend against Toronto.
Cleveland Guardians' Will Brennan scores behind Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya in the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
