Justin Steele, Yan Gomes help Cubs blank Padres
CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Steele pitched three-hit ball into the sixth inning in his fourth straight win, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 on Tuesday night.
Yan Gomes had four of Chicago's seven hits, including a two-run drive off Blake Snell in the second. Gomes is batting .441 (15 for 34) with four homers and nine RBIs in his last eight games.
Taking the mound on a chilly night at Wrigley Field, Steele struck out five and walked two in 5 1/3 innings. San Diego had at least one baserunner in four of the first five innings, but it came up empty each time.
Steele (4-0) improved to 5-1 with a 1.07 ERA in his last 12 starts dating to July 22. He pitched at least six innings and allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first four outings this year.
The Cubs broke it open with four runs in the eighth. Gomes hit an RBI single and scored on Nico Hoerner's three-run triple.
Snell (0-4) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked five in his third straight loss. The veteran lefty has 18 walks in 23 innings on the season.
San Diego, which had won four of five, finished with five hits. It went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
After Steele retired Juan Soto for the first out of the sixth, Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr., Keegan Thompson and Michael Rucker combined for 3 2/3 innings of two-hit ball.
Thompson issued consecutive two-out walks to Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts in the eighth. But Jake Cronenworth flied out to right, ending the inning.
NEW ADDITION
The Cubs placed outfielder Cody Bellinger on the paternity list and recalled outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Triple-A Iowa. Bellinger and his girlfriend welcomed their second child on Sunday, a girl.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: Manager Bob Melvin said RHP Yu Darvish is fine. Darvish left Sunday's 7-5 win at Arizona in the sixth inning. "It was just some cramping. Wasn't as hydrated as he should have been," Melvin said.
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (right shoulder strain) will make a rehab start with Iowa on Thursday. Hendricks hasn't pitched in a big league game since July 5.
UP NEXT
San Diego right-hander Michael Wacha and Chicago left-hander Drew Smyly take the mound on Wednesday night. Wacha (2-1, 7.08 ERA) was tagged for five runs and 10 hits in four innings in a no-decision at Arizona in his last start. Smyly (2-1, 3.13) is coming off a dominant performance against the Dodgers, striking out 10 in 7 2/3 innings in a 13-0 win on Friday.
