Michael Busch and Ian Happ homered and the Chicago Cubs opened a seven-game road trip with a 9-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
Seiya Suzuki added a pair of run-scoring hits as the Cubs won for the fourth time in their last five games, marking their best stretch since April. Busch had four of Chicago’s 14 hits.
Jameson Taillon (6-4) held the Orioles to two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings. He retired the final 11 batters he faced in his second straight winning start against a divisional leader. Taillon topped the Philadelphia Phillies last Thursday.
With Monday’s off day, the Cubs juggled their pitching rotation, giving All-Star Shota Imanaga an extra day of rest ahead of his start on Wednesday night.
Jordan Westburg smacked a solo home run in the second inning for Baltimore, which was back home following a 4-2 West Coast trip. Adley Rutschman had two of the Orioles’ five hits.
Chicago relievers Tyson Miller, Mark Leiter Jr. and Hunter Bigge all pitched one shutout inning.
Baltimore starter Dean Kremer (4-5) surrendered both home runs. He was tagged for seven runs (five earned) in four innings. It was just his second appearance in the big leagues since May, but he didn’t have nearly the success as he showed in five shutout innings last week against the Seattle Mariners.
Busch began the scoring with his 12th home run in the first inning. Happ’s 14th long ball was a three-run shot in the fourth, stretching the Cubs’ lead to 7-2.
Suzuki drove in a third-inning run with a single and an eighth-inning run with a double. Miles Mastrobuoni added two hits for Chicago.
The Orioles, who were beginning a six-game homestand leading to the All-Star break, have allowed seven or more runs in each of their last five losses.