Cubs 3 - 4 Guardians
Final
  for this game

Cubs go for encore performance against Tribe

Jun 18, 2015 - 2:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Cubs hope to stay hot at the plate on Thursday night as they conclude a weather-shortened three-game series with the Cleveland Indians.

Monday's contest in Chicago was postponed due to rain and the Indians blanked the Cubs 6-0 the following night. The series then shifted to Cleveland on Wednesday and Chicago exploded for four homers in a 17-0 rout.

Kris Bryant, Chris Denorfia, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell all went deep as part of the 18-hit attack, while Kyle Schwarber keyed a six-run second inning with an RBI triple.

The fourth overall pick in last year's draft, Schwarber finished 4-for-5, scored three runs and had two RBI in his first MLB start following a promotion on Tuesday.

Tsuyoshi Wada and Yoervis Medina combined on a four-hit shutout. Wada scattered four singles over seven innings with two walks and six strikeouts as the Cubs won for the seventh time in 10 games.

With the game out of reach and the bullpen all but empty, Cleveland manager Terry Francona used utility player Ryan Raburn and outfielder David Murphy to pitch the ninth.

"Getting into that situation doesn't feel good," Francona said.

Murphy relieved Raburn with two men aboard and got a popup from David Ross that appeared to be the final out of the inning. However, Francisco Lindor, lost the ball and it dropped in for an error.

Russell then hit an RBI single and Murphy hit Mike Baxter with the bases loaded before Bryant homered to center field for a grand slam.

Chicago manager Joe Maddon can sympathize with Francona.

"I've been there. It's a bad feeling," he said.

Shaun Marcum was charged with six runs over two innings in a losing start.

Danny Salazar aims to bounce back from his first loss in over a month tonight and get the Indians back on track.

Salazar was bested 4-0 in Detroit on Friday for his first setback since May 5. He had a six-start unbeaten streak halted (3-0) even though he was only charged with three runs and seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts. Salazar fell to 6-2 on the year with a 3.54 earned run average as he paid for a three-run homer allowed to Miguel Cabrera in the sixth inning.

"Other than (Cabrera's home run), Danny pitched really well and was dominant," said Francona.

The 25-year-old righty will be facing the Cubs for the first time and is unbeaten at home this year, going 3-0 in four starts with a 3.16 ERA.

Jason Hammel looks to stretch his unbeaten streak to four straight starts for the Cubs and beat the Indians for the first time in his career.

Hammel struck out 18 batters and allowed just a total of three runs over consecutive victories before getting a no-decision against Cincinnati on Friday. He was charged with four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and three walks over just five innings as the Cubs lost to the Reds 5-4.

"Just out of sync today," said Hammel. "The fact that we had a chance to still be in it and win when I left was nice because it could have been a lot worse."

The right-hander is still a solid 5-2 on the year with a 2.81 ERA, but 0-3 lifetime against the Indians with a 5.40 ERA across eight games, including four starts.

These two franchises are meeting for the first time since the Cubs swept a three-game set at home in 2009.






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