Field Level Media
Aug 7, 2019
Jose Quintana threw seven strong innings to earn his sixth straight winning decision and Ian Happ's grand slam highlighted a five-run fourth as the Chicago Cubs rolled to a 10-1 victory over the visiting Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.
One day after being routed 11-4 by the A's, Chicago returned the favor while continuing to support Quintana (10-7). The left-hander allowed one run, two hits and struck out seven without a walk to improve to 6-0 with a 3.67 ERA over his last seven starts.
The NL Central-leading Cubs have scored at least six runs while winning each of those seven outings by Quintana.
Kyle Schwarber added a three-run homer and Victor Caratini a solo shot for Chicago, which completed a 5-1 homestand to improve to 41-19 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are just 21-33 on the road, where they begin a 10-game stretch Thursday at Cincinnati.
Oakland managed just three hits after recording 13 on Tuesday. The A's dropped two of three in this set after winning six of seven.
After Quintana retired the first nine batters he faced, Oakland's Marcus Semien doubled to open the fourth and went to third on Matt Chapman's fly ball to right field. Semien scored on Matt Olson's deep fly to right center.
Chicago broke out in the bottom of the frame. Javier Baez lined an RBI single to right off Homer Bailey (9-8). Two batters later, Happ deposited the first pitch he saw from Bailey into the left-center field bleachers for his second career grand slam.
Happ, a staple with the Cubs the past two seasons, is batting .320 with two home runs and six RBIs over 12 games since making his 2019 debut on July 26.
The Cubs weren't done, however, as they scored four times in the fifth. Baez, who left late after fouling a pitch off his leg, added another RBI single to right with two outs and Schwarber delivered an opposite field, three-run blast off reliever Lou Trivino for his 26th home run of the season.
Caratini added his sixth homer of the season in the eighth.
Bailey, 2-2 in five starts since coming over from Kansas City, allowed seven runs over 4 2/3 innings.
--Field Level Media