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HOLY COW! The Cubs smashed San Diego 23-3 on Wednesday to win their fifth straight game and sweep the series!

Colin Rea had a nice start (5 IP, 2 ER, 5 K), but Dansby Swanson stole the show with three home runs – his third was a grand slam – and eight RBI! That's five homers in the past two games for Swanson! He posted an .846 OPS for June and now has a red-hot start to July.

Michael Conforto added two blasts while going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Michael Busch each hit one. Suzuki's round-tripper was the 100th of his MLB career.

 

Trent Thornton and Jordan Wicks looked good in relief, tossing a combined four innings of one-run ball.

 

The North Siders have an off day Thursday before hosting the Cardinals in a three-game weekend set that wraps up the homestand.

 

87 games down, 75 to go.

 

Go Cubs go!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

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Holy mackerel! The Cubs held on to beat the Friars 9-7 on Tuesday at Wrigley behind five home runs – two from Dansby Swanson and one apiece from Alex Bregman, Michael Busch, & Pete Crow-Armstrong – and Ryan Rolison's first career save!

The North Siders are again the hottest team in the NL, having won four straight, eight of nine, and 14 of their last 18.

 

Along the way, Pete Crow-Armstrong had a spectacular June, finishing the month with a 1.249 OPS. By comparison, 1998 NL MVP Sammy Sosa's red-hot June, 1998, with its incredible 20 home runs, notched a 1.173 OPS.

PCA's month wasn't just good by Cubs standards. He's in some pretty impressive company MLB-wide:  only Babe Ruth (three times) and Lou Gehrig (one time) have tallied a month with these stats: 

• .375 or higher batting average
• .775 or higher slugging percentage
• 80 or more total bases
• 15 or more walks
• 10 or more home runs
• 5 or more stolen bases

The Men in Blue look to complete the series sweep Wednesday at Wrigley before the Cardinals come to town for a three-game weekend set to close out the homestand.

 

It's been a year of ups and downs, but considering the season-long plethora of pitching injuries – they currently have 13 pitchers on the Injured List – it is impressive that they sit ten games above .500 and atop the NL Wild Card standings.

 

86 games down, 76 to go.

 

Go Cubs go!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs