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Chicago. – The Chicago Cubs showcased a collective offensive display this Friday by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 at Wrigley Field, in the first of a three-game series, thereby closing the gap in the race for the top spot in the National League Central Division.
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Ian Happ shined by missing a triple for the cycle and driving in two runs, while Nico Hoerner reached base three times, Venezuelan Moisés Ballesteros hit a key triple, and Dansby Swanson added a run-scoring double. That offensive support was enough to back veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd, who worked five innings despite allowing four runs. Dominican Christopher Morel, former Cubs player, punished Boyd with a three-run homer in the first inning, but the lefty recovered and limited the damage until completing his work. In addition, Boyd surprised with a pickoff in the fourth inning, throwing out Venezuelan Everson Pereira at first base, thus adding his eleventh of the season, a figure that leads Major League Baseball and that hadn't been seen since 2012, when Clayton Kershaw achieved the same amount. Chicago's offense responded immediately. In the second inning, the home team scored three runs with RBIs from Swanson, Michael Busch, and Happ. Then, in the third, Ballesteros put his team ahead with a run-scoring triple, and in the fourth inning, Happ extended the lead with his 21st home run of the year. With this triumph, the Cubs are only five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, leaders of the Central, awaiting the result of the Brewers against the Cardinals in the night game. The series continues this weekend at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs will look to maintain momentum in their postseason run.
