NEW YORK — The Cubs are carrying good vibes into the All-Star break after beating the Yankees 7-4 on Sunday to win the three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
“To win a series on the road, finish out a road trip with a series win, especially going into the break, and being able to recharge your batteries and get off to a good start in the second half is huge,” catcher Tucker Barnhart said.
It has been an up-and-down first half for the Cubs. They put together a strong April, a bad May, a turnaround in June and a mixed bag in recent weeks. But the Cubs made history Friday by getting their first win against the Yankees in New York, then they beat them again in the finale.
Starter Kyle Hendricks was in control until the last two batters he faced. For the first time this season, he gave up multiple home runs. And they came in back-to-back at-bats in the sixth inning. The Cubs punched back right away, tying the score in the seventh inning, then taking the lead in the eighth and tacking on insurance in the ninth.
Seiya Suzuki provided the Cubs’ first run with a fifth-inning solo shot, his first homer since May 23, and drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
The team’s showing stood in stark contrast to last year, when the Cubs dropped three games in New York by scores of 2-1, 8-0 and 18-4.
“We’re growing,” manager David Ross said. “We’re getting to where we want to be. Record-wise, we’re not there yet. But there are a lot of the underlying things you can point to: the culture, the way we’re seeing guys show up, the work we put in to figure out some things in the bullpen, the offense scratching, clawing. Some things go our way, and we pounce on it.”
Ross ejected
Ross didn’t even make it through the first inning on the bench. Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees’ second hitter, took a borderline ball two. And after making the call, plate umpire Alex MacKay turned and motioned to the Cubs’ dugout, ejecting Ross.
“He didn’t like me yelling anymore,” Ross said.
During the game, Ross’ language was more colorful. Before exiting down the tunnel, he strode onto the field, and much of the tirade was caught on a hot mic.
It was Ross’ fourth ejection and second in the last week.
MLB Draft kicks off
With their first pick in the MLB Draft, the Cubs selected Maryland infielder Matt Shaw at No. 13 overall. Shaw won the 2023 Brooks Wallace Award, which is given to the top college shortstop in the country. He also was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.
“I’m going through the different teams, and I’m like, ‘You know, Chicago would be a great fit,’ ’’ he said. “So it worked out great. And I’m just really happy.”
When he addressed local media on Zoom about an hour after his selection, Shaw said Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson already had congratulated him with a long text message.
