CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ hit a home run in the first inning and Michael Busch added a two-run triple as the Chicago Cubs beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday.
Dansby Swanson scored twice more for the Cubs, who earned their second straight win after losing three straight games to the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.
Nate Pearson (2-1), one of seven Cubs pitchers, allowed a hit in two scoreless innings to earn the win. Jorge López allowed a home run in the ninth inning before striking out George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for his third save in three opportunities.
The Cubs chose López after closer Héctor Neris allowed three runs in the ninth inning while throwing 33 pitches in 10 innings of a 6-5 win over Toronto on Friday.
“I’ve been working hard every day,” said López, who earned his first save with Chicago after going 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA with the Mets, who assigned him to the assignment on May 30. “That’s part of being in a big situation, just staying calm and just throwing.”
Addison Barger hit his third home run of the season and Varsho added two hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who had won five of their last eight games.
Chris Bassitt (9-12) allowed five hits and three runs in five innings for Toronto and recorded five strikeouts and two walks.
“To his credit, he made it through five,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He stayed focused. Home run on the first pitch, kind of an ambush. He did pretty well. It was a weird day with the delays and a pretty stressful outing for him.”
The game was stopped twice in the second inning – at 39 and 16 minutes – allowing starter Justin Steele to complete only two hitless innings for the Cubs.
“Tomorrow’s game is the game that’s most affected by this, but we’re also paying attention to Justin’s health,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I just didn’t think it would be good to put him on the field now and for the rest of the season after two delays.”
Happ hit his 22nd home run of the season on Bassitt’s first pitch in the bottom of the first inning. It was Happ’s second home run in as many games and his seventh career home run as the first batter.
Busch hit a two-run triple in the fifth inning that extended the Cubs’ lead to 3-0 after Pete Crow-Armstrong got on base with a bunt single and Miguel Amayas got on base with a fielder’s choice. Busch’s hit appeared to bounce off center fielder Varsho’s glove as it bounced against the wall.
Varsho’s bunt single against Drew Smyly cut Toronto’s deficit to 3-1 in the seventh inning after Steward Beerrora and Springer each had singled.
The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the fourth inning. Pearson, who was traded from Toronto on July 27, allowed a double to Guerrero and issued two walks before striking out Davis Schneider and getting Berroa on a flyout.
GROUP WORK
Together, six Cubs relievers allowed two runs and had seven strikeouts in seven innings.
“Great bullpen performance today,” Counsell said.
TRAINING ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Leo Jiménez (right knee soreness) left the game in the second inning. He twisted his knee while trying to steal a base while back on third base and is improving, Schneider said.
Next
RHP Bowden Francis (5-3, 4.92 ERA) starts for the Blue Jays against Cubs’ LHP Shota Imanaga (9-2, 3.16) in the series finale.
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