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Francis (6-3) struck out seven and didn't walk
a batter in winning his second straight start and denying the
Cubs a three-game sweep. He did appear to catch a break in the
third inning, when the wind kept a fly ball to left-center by
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya from going over the fence.
Toronto reliever Ryan Burr got the first two Cubs out in the
eighth, and after he issued a walk, Genesis Cabrera came on to
strike out pinch hitter Isaac Parades.
Chicago's Hector Neris worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in
the top of the ninth, and the Cubs threatened in the bottom of
the ninth against Chad Green. Cody Bellinger singled with one
out, and with two outs, he stole second. But Green secured his
13th save when he got Dansby Swanson to ground out.
The first two hits Francis allowed came with one out in the
fourth, on Michael Busch's check-swing grounder and Seiya
Suzuki's bloop single to center.
Francis got Bellinger to pop out, and he should have been out of
the inning on Nico Hoerner's grounder to short, but Ernie
Clement bobbled the ball as he attempted to flip it to second
for a forceout. Francis, who struck out a career-high eight in
his previous outing, then caught Swanson looking.
Imanaga (9-3) yielded just the one run on four hits and one
walk. He struck out six but was pulled to start the sixth inning
after throwing 97 pitches, 69 for strikes. It was his first loss
since June 21.
Francis was pulled after seven innings, matching his career
high, which also came in his previous start. He threw 71 of his
95 pitches, also a career high, for strikes.
The Blue Jays got singles from Alejandro Kirk and Spencer
Horwitz with two outs in the eighth off reliever Ethan Roberts,
but Roberts got Addison Barger to line out.
George Springer, Loperfido and Kirk each had two of Toronto's
eight hits. Hoerner had a double in the seventh for the Cubs,
who finished with four hits.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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