Red-hot Cubs pound Orioles 10-3 for 4th straight win

Dansby Swanson sees a lineup doing all the right things — and the numbers back him up.

“We’ve taken a really good approach and mentality into the batter’s box,” Swanson said, “and we’ve been rewarded for that.”

Big time.

Christopher Morel homered and drove in three runs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-3 on Friday for their fourth straight win.

Swanson and Miguel Amaya also connected for Chicago, which broke open a close game with six runs in the sixth inning. Nico Hoerner had two hits and two RBIs, and Kyle Hendricks (2-2) pitched five effective innings for his second straight victory.

Chicago (32-37) has won six of seven, and the four-game win streak matches its season high.

“Offense has really been kind of finding their stride, getting big hits,” manager David Ross said. “Christopher Morel, I mean he’s punishing baseballs right now.”

Baltimore (43-26) had won six of seven. But Cole Irvin (1-3) was pulled in the fifth, and the bullpen faltered in the opener of a five-game trip.

Chicago, in all-blue uniforms with “Wrigleyville” across the chest, finished with 12 hits for its fourth straight game in double digits. The Cubs have recorded a four-plus run inning in four straight for the first time since June 28-July 1, 2018.

Chicago jumped in front on Amaya’s first homer at Wrigley Field, a leadoff drive to left in the third. The catching prospect made his big league debut in May and connected for his first homer June 4 at San Diego.




Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, June 16, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)