NEWSLETTER
The Cubs did all their scoring in the first, and made it stand up for the win with generally good pitching and generally good defense.
Jameson Taillon looked solid again in his second start, locating well, giving up no barrels, and managing an Astros lineup that is still pretty stacked. Taillon’s one big spot of trouble came in the third inning, thanks in part to some flukey plays in the infield, but he did exceedingly well to allow only two runs in the frame. In the process, he struck out Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez with two runners on, and then got Kyle Tucker to fly out to end it.
There was more drama late with the Astros threatening in the 8th, but Christopher Morel made a possibly-game-saving leaping grab, and Mark Leiter Jr. finished the frame from there. Hector Neris gave up a solo homer to Jose Altuve in the 9th, but otherwise shut it down for the save.
