Chicago's Cubs deliver two home runs, securing a victory over Toronto's Blue Jays.
In a thrilling encounter at the Rogers Centre on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Chicago Cubs clinched a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rookie pitcher Cade Horton, one of the top rookies in the National League, delivered a dominant performance for the Cubs. Horton, who has been impressing this season, pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on one hit and two walks. He also struck out a career-best eight batters.
The game began with Horton retiring the first 10 Blue Jays batters in order. His scoreless streak extended to 28 1/3 innings before a two-run double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the sixth inning ended it.
The Cubs took an early lead in the first inning when Michael Busch hit his 23rd home run of the season. Matt Shaw added to the Cubs' tally with a solo home run in the third inning.
The Blue Jays' only run came in the sixth inning after reliever Andrew Kittredge gave up a run-scoring double to Guerrero Jr., following Cade Horton's departure from the game.
The Cubs added two insurance runs in the later part of the game to secure their win.
Max Scherzer, who will start for the Blue Jays in the series finale against the Cubs on Thursday afternoon, faced Matthew Boyd in this game. Scherzer pitched well, giving up three hits, one walk, and two earned runs in seven innings, while striking out three.
The game, which lasted two hours, 27 minutes, was witnessed by a sellout crowd of 43,120 spectators. However, the game was marred by an injury to Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya, who suffered a left ankle sprain during the game and had to leave on a cart. X-rays did not show a fracture, but Amaya will be placed on the injured list.
In the sixth inning, Andres Gimenez became the first Blue Jays player to get a hit off Horton, doing so with a single. Bo Bichette was the only Blue Jays player to reach base before the sixth inning, doing so via a walk in the fourth inning.
Daniel Palencia earned his 16th save of the season by pitching a perfect ninth inning.
[1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401362563 [2] https://www.mlb.com/gameday/566382 [3] https://www.mlb.com/news/cade-horton-named-national-league-rookie-of-the-month-for-june/c-340627914 [4] https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/cubs-cade-horton-delivers-dominant-performance-in-win-over-blue-jays/ [5] https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/cubs-beat-blue-jays-4-1-jays-drop-fourth-straight/
In the previous game, the dominant performance by Cubs' rookie phenom Cade Horton, who was named National League Rookie of the Month for June, contributed to the team's 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. This victory was a significant one, not just for its score, but also because Horton, a top rookie in the MLB, pitched an impressive 5 2/3 innings, striking out a career-best eight batters.
