Final: Cubs 6, Red Sox 5

In their first return to Wrigley Field for the first time in a decade, the Red Sox couldn't control themselves.

Their pitchers issued 10 walks -- including seven in the span of two innings -- and were beaten by the Chicago Cubs, 6-5.

After Rich Hill ran into trouble in the fifth because of a knee sprain, Hansel Robles and Jake Diekman encountered control problems, combining for four walks and a a wild pitch. It didn't help that Robles allowed a two-run homer to Christopher Morel.

The Sox had sprinted to a 4-0 lead by the second inning, but scored just one more run the rest of the way.

WHO: Red Sox (43-33) vs. Chicago Cubs (30-46)
WHEN: 2:20 p.m.
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago IL
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Rich Hill (4-4, 4.09) vs RHP Adrian Sampson (0-0, 1.69)
TV/RADIO: NESN; MLBN; WEEI-FM 93.7 FM

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Duran CF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo LF
Story 2B
Cordero 1B
Vazquez C
Bradley RF

CUBS

Morel 2B
Contreras C
Happ LF
Widsom 3B
Crook CF
Gomes DH
Higgins RF
Velazquez RF
Simmons SS

WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox were off yesterday, following a 6-5, 10-inning win at TOR on Wednesday... They are 8-2 in their last 10 games. The Sox rank T-3rd in the AL in winning percentage (.566) and 3rd in run differential (+60)...The Red Sox have lost only 2 of their last 15 series (11-2-2), after winning only 1 of their first 9 (1- 7-1)...They had won 7 consecutive series prior to this week. The Sox are 0-7-0 in series against AL East opponents, compared to 12-2-3 against all other teams. ...The Sox entered June at 23-27, 4.0 games out of the AL’s 3rd Wild Card spot...They went 20-6 (.769) in June, passing 5 teams in the Wild Card standings. Only 4 other times this century have the Sox earned 20+ wins in a calendar month (May 2002, August 2004, May 2007, July 2011). ....Today, the Red Sox begin a stretch of 17 consecutive days with a game, matching their longest streak of the season (also 4/15-5/1 and 7/22-8/7). ....The Red Sox are in the midst of a 9-game road trip at CLE (3-0), TOR (1-2), and CHC (3 G). At 23-17 (.575), the Sox’ road record ranks T-5th in MLB...They are 13-4 (.765) in their last 17 road games. The Sox’ 3.37 ERA on the road ranks 4th in the majors. From 6/17-8/3, 36 of the Red Sox’ 42 games are against teams that entered today with a winning record (CLE-7, NYY-7, TB-7, TOR-6, HOU-3, MIL-3, STL-3). Following this series in Chicago, the Red Sox will play 17 consecutive games against AL East teams. The Sox are 9-5 in their last 14 games vs. teams that currently have a winning record: ATL (1-1), HOU (2-1), STL (2-1), CLE (3-0), and TOR (1-2)...Overall, their 15- 16 (.484) record vs. winning teams ranks 3rd in the AL. ....The Red Sox have not lost more than 2 consecutive games since dropping 5 straight from 5/4-8...Only twice since then have they lost back-to-back games (5/30-31 and 6/27-28); in that same time, they have had 3 winning streaks of 6+ games (2 of 7+ games). ....The Red Sox were 10-19 after getting swept at home by the White Sox from 5/6-8...Since 5/10, they are 33-14 (.702) and lead the majors in AVG (.281), OBP (.353), OPS (.815), and runs scored (269). The Red Sox could become the 1st team in the Wild Card era (since 2012) to lose as many as 19 of their first 30 games and still make the Postseason. ....The Red Sox and Cubs are playing each other for the 1st time since 2017, when the Sox earned a 2-1 series win at Fenway Park...The Cubs lead the all-time series, 8-7. These teams are meeting at Wrigley Field for the 1st time since 2012, when the Sox earned a 2-1 series win...They also played here in 2005 (CHC 2, BOS 1). The lone World Series meeting between the Sox and Cubs occurred in 1918 (BOS 4, CHC 2). Fenway Park (opened 1912) and Wrigley Field (1914) have been open for a combined 220 years...The 13 newest ballparks have been open for a combined 195 years. ....The Red Sox are an MLB-best 283- 187 (.602) all time in Interleague play...They have recorded at least a .500 Interleague winning % in each of the last 7 seasons, going an MLB-best 86-41 (.677) since the start of 2015. The Sox are 1-0-2 in series against NL teams this season (1-1 at ATL, 1-1 vs. CIN, 2-1 vs. STL). START ME UP: The Red Sox have won 14 consecutive games in which their starting pitcher throws at least 6.0 innings (19-1 in last 20)...The Sox lead the majors with 3 complete games (20 teams have none). Since 5/31, Sox starters lead the majors in wins (16-5) and ERA (2.81; 48 ER/154.0 IP)...All 16 of those wins came in June, the most victories by Sox starters in a calendar month since May 2010 (17). ....Six Red Sox pitchers are on the Injured List: Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes, and Josh Taylor. Sale threw 52 pitches in 4.0 innings for Double-A Portland last night (1 R, 4 H, 7 SO, 0 BB)...He also pitched for the FCL Red Sox on 6/20 (1.0 IP) and 6/25 (2.2 IP). .....The Red Sox lead the AL in AVG (.261), OBP (.326), doubles (180), and XBH (259), rank 2nd in runs (364), and are 3rd in SLG (.418) and OPS (.744). Since 5/10, the Sox are 28-3 when scoring 5+ runs... They have scored 5+ runs in a game 39 times, most in the AL and tied for most in the majors (also NYM/STL). The Sox have struck out in 20.4% of plate appearances, the 3rd-lowest mark in the AL (6th-lowest in MLB). SMALL BALL: In June, the Red Sox went 8-4 when they didn’t hit a HR (5-17 in April and May). The Sox lead the AL with 30 sacrifice flies, tied with the Giants for most in the majors...The Sox also rank T-5th in the AL with 6 sacrifice bunts. In pinch-hitting situations, the Sox rank 3rd in the AL in AVG (.300, 9-for-30) and 2nd in OPS (.849). ....The Red Sox are 26-for-29 (89.7%) in stolen base attempts in their last 44 games (beginning 5/14), after going 4-for-9 (44.4%) in their first 32 games. Overall, the Sox are 30-for-38 (78.9%) in stolen base attempts...In 2021, they ranked 29th in the majors (last in AL) in both steals (40) and stolen base % (65.6). GETTING DEFENSIVE: The Red Sox rank 7th in the majors in defensive runs saved (30)...They have been charged with only 2 errors in their last 9 games.

NOTES: 

* Alex Cora made a cryptic comment in Toronto Wednesday that things would be different when it comes to the availability of some previously ineligible players when the team makes its last trip to Toronto in the final week and Friday morning, that was confirmed. Outfielder Jarren Duran said he would be vaccinated by the time the series takes place. "I love this game too much to miss out on opportunities to play baseball. I could care less about the money of the service time. I missed the boys and missed playing baseball. That was kind of the deciding factor.''

* Tanner Houck was less forthcoming about his plans, saying he didn't want to comment. Both Houck and Duran are active again for the weekend series with the Cubs.

* Cora confirmed that Chris Sale, who threw four innings in Portland as he continues his rehab, will next pitch Wednesday in Worcester. Cora wouldn't say what might happen after that outing, but it's at least possible that Sale's next start after that could be for the big league team.