Cubs Complete Sweep of Angels with 4–3 Win in Anaheim
The Chicago Cubs capped off a dominant weekend with a 4–3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, securing a three-game sweep.
Kyle Tucker contributed with a 1-for-3 performance, drawing two walks, scoring once, and driving in a run. Nico Hoerner added a pair of hits, including a double, and knocked in a run. Matt Shaw also tallied two hits with a double and scored as Chicago picked up its sixth win in seven games, tightening the gap in the National League Central Division to just five games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
Jameson Taillon (9–6) earned the win after delivering five strong innings, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out three. Daniel Palencia sealed the victory with his 20th save, striking out the side in the ninth with triple-digit fastballs, including back-to-back punchouts of Christian Moore and Bryce Teodosio with two men on base.
For the Angels, Taylor Ward was the standout, going 2-for-4 with a home run, double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. However, Los Angeles dropped its fifth contest in the last six games.
Former Cub Kyle Hendricks (6–9), who played a pivotal role on Chicago’s 2016 World Series championship team, struggled in his first career start against his old club. The veteran right-hander gave up four runs on five hits across 4 1/3 innings, with three walks and two strikeouts.
Ward opened the scoring with his 30th home run of the season, a 400-foot blast to left in the first inning. The Cubs responded in the third when Shaw’s ground-rule double led to Tucker’s RBI single, tying the game.
Chicago grabbed a 2–1 edge in the fourth on Hoerner’s double into the left-center gap, driving in Ian Happ. The lead stretched to 4–1 in the fifth after Tucker walked to load the bases. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s sacrifice fly brought home Michael Busch, and Tucker later scored on Carson Kelly’s single.
The Angels closed the gap in the sixth with help from Ward, who ripped an RBI double to score Zach Neto. Neto had singled and stolen second before Ward came through at the plate. A fielding error by Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson then allowed Ward to come across, trimming the lead to one.
Despite the late push, the Angels couldn’t complete the rally, leaving Chicago to celebrate another series victory in its playoff chase.
