Cubs 6, White Sox 1: Cade Horton and Matt Shaw lead the way

Two Cubs rookies helped the team to victory.

We’ve seen flashes of great play from Cubs rookies Cade Horton and Matt Shaw this year, but the pair has also struggled at times. Shaw has had long batting slumps. Horton couldn’t seem to put together good outings away from Wrigley Field.

Both had stellar games Saturday night on the South Side. Horton threw six strong innings, plus one out in the seventh, and Shaw homered and drove in three runs as the Cubs evened up the series with a 6-1 victory.

Horton had a couple of glitches in the first two innings — a pair of pitch timer violations. I don’t think I remember seeing any Cubs pitcher have two of those in a single game since the timer went into effect three years ago. In those two innings, the Sox got a runner to third base in each, but Horton got out of the innings with no runs scoring.

Meanwhile, the Cubs couldn’t do anything with Aaron Civale. The first 11 Cubs hitters went down in order before Seiya Suzuki singled with two out in the fourth. The Cubs managed to get runners to first and third with one out in the fifth, but nothing doing there either.

Horton, though, slammed the door after his first two shaky innings. After Kyle Teel singled in the second, Horton retired 10 White Sox hitters in a row, and after Teel reached third base in that second inning, the Sox had just two baserunners off Horton, both singles, and neither got past first base.

The Cubs finally got on the board in the seventh. With one out, Ian Happ homered [VIDEO].

After Dansby Swanson struck out, Nico Hoerner singled, and Shaw followed with his sixth home run (and fourth in his last seven games) [VIDEO].

Horton was left in the game for the first Sox batter in the seventh, Miguel Vargas, who he retired on a fly to right. Horton was just outstanding. More from BCB’s JohnW53:

Cade Horton’s start was the Cubs’ sixth this season of at least 6⅓ innings with no runs allowed. He had a seven-inning scoreless start vs. the Guardians on July 3. Matthew Boyd also has had two. Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele have had one.

Horton has not given up a run in his last 12⅔ innings spanning three games.

More on Horton’s outing [VIDEO].

Caleb Thielbar replaced Horton and retired the next two batters, also on fly balls to right field.

The Cubs broke the game open in the eighth — all after the first two hitters were routine outs.

Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled and Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch. Happ walked to load the bases and Swanson drove in both PCA and Kelly with this single [VIDEO].

Hoerner walked to re-load the bases and Shaw drew another walk to make it 6-0 [VIDEO].

Brad Keller threw a 1-2-3 eighth on only six pitches. After that disastrous game he had against the Cardinals earlier this month, Keller has now held opponents scoreless in four of his last five outings.

Ryan Pressly threw the ninth and allowed a consolation run to the Sox on a home run by old friend Mike Tauchman. (Again, making me wonder why Jed Hoyer let Tauchman go this past offseason. Perhaps he can return before the trade deadline.)

After that, Pressly allowed a single, but ended the game on a fly to left and this double play [VIDEO].

The Cubs — and all Cubs fans! — send a big thank you to the Miami Marlins, who defeated the Milwaukee Brewers for the second straight night. That puts the Cubs and Brewers back into a first-place tie in the NL Central, and also tied for the best record in the National League. If the Cubs win Sunday’s series finale on the South Side, they will be no worse than tied for the top spot entering the big series in Milwaukee beginning Monday.

Here are some postgame comments from Shaw:

And some from Horton:

Craig Counsell is giving Ben Brown Sunday’s start — no opener. We all know Brown has talent, he’s had three starts this year of six innings with no runs allowed. But he has also struggled mightily at times. Here’s hoping that Brown has one of those good outings today. The Sox, meanwhile, will use an opener, Grant Taylor. Sean Burke, who was originally scheduled to start Sunday, could wind up being their “bulk guy.”

Game time Sunday is 1:10 p.m. CT. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network, and Chicago Sports Network with the Sox announcers. The CHSN broadcast will be simulcast over-the-air on WCIU-Ch. 26 in the local Chicago market.

Today’s game preview will post at 11 a.m. CT.