PCA ignites Cubs' offense once again from leadoff spot

BALTIMORE -- Given the rotation issues that have hit the Cubs this season, having a healthy and productive Matthew Boyd the rest of the way would be a crucial development. On Tuesday against the Orioles, Boyd certainly looked ready for that challenge.

Boyd logged six scoreless innings to guide the Cubs to a 5-2 victory at Camden Yards, displaying improved velocity on his fastball and sharp bite on his breaking pitches. The lefty has been limited to just eight outings this year due to injury setbacks, but is hoping that is all behind him as Chicago aims for a return to the playoffs.

“I’m just feeling good,” Boyd said. “We’ve just been on a good path.”

Here were three keys to Tuesday’s win over the Orioles:

1. Boyd locked in with runners on

Boyd gave the Cubs six scoreless innings, which represented his first time logging at least that many frames since May 3. It was also his first time providing at least six scoreless since Aug. 2 of last season. Naturally, that outing last year was also against the Orioles.

Baltimore had its chances on Tuesday, but Boyd stopped that at each turn.

Overall, the Orioles finished 0-for-9 with runners on base against Boyd, whose best moment arrived in the fourth. Baltimore put the first two runners on base, but the lefty then struck out the next three batters -- Samuel Basallo, Blaze Alexander, and Dylan Beavers -- in order with his slider.

“The first two guys get on,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, “and the next two strikeouts were huge. He kind of just bore down and made some really good pitches.”

Boyd leads with his fastball and changeup, but that slider was particularly strong against the Orioles in this outing. Four of Boyd’s seven strikeouts came via the pitch, as did six of the 15 whiffs (swinging strikes) he generated. In fact, Boyd registered a 60% whiff rate on the 10 swings induced by the slider.

“When the slider’s working like it is and has depth,” Boyd said, “it’s a counter to the changeup, without a doubt. It just gives a whole other dynamic to attacking hitters.”

2. That’s why PCA’s an All-Star

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was named to the National League All-Star team on Saturday night for the second year in a row. The Orioles got a firsthand look at the kind of offensive catalyst that Chicago has in its leadoff spot right now.

With two outs in the third inning, Crow-Armstrong followed a walk by Miguel Amaya with a sharp single into center for the first hit of the night off Shane Baz. Crow-Armstrong then scored on an RBI single from Alex Bregman, who played a role in the center fielder’s improved plate discipline this season.

Then in the fifth, Crow-Armstrong pulled a pitch from Baz into right field at 103.4 mph off the bat, per Statcast. It fell for a single that scored Dansby Swanson to spark a two-run push. Over his past seven games, Crow-Armstrong has hit at a .458 (11-for-24) clip for the North Siders.

“He’s having, so far, an amazing season,” said Amaya, who had two hits, one walk and scored three runs out of the No. 9 spot ahead of Crow-Armstrong. “It’s cool to have people on base when he’s coming to bat.”

3. Webb escapes messy seventh

Following Boyd’s exit, lefty Ryan Rolison -- one of the Cubs’ more reliable (2.43 ERA, entering the night) relievers -- ran into trouble in the seventh.

Rolison allowed an infield single to Basallo and another hit to Alexander to begin the frame, but briefly bounced back with consecutive strikeouts. After Rolison then walked Taylor Ward to load the bases, Counsell turned to righty Jacob Webb.

Adley Rutschman delivered an RBI single to right field, which grew into a two-run play when Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki made a wild throw home that allowed a second run to score. Chicago’s lead was sliced to 4-2, but Webb answered with a strikeout of Gunnar Henderson to limit the damage.

From there, Tyler Ferguson and Trent Thornton each set down the side in order across the final two innings, respectively.

“Webby came into a difficult situation,” Counsell said. “Unfortunately, a ground ball got through. But, Ferguson with a big eighth inning. Thornton with a big ninth inning. And we move on.”