Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/11/24): Cubs 8, Orioles 0 – Steele Stifles O’s to Complete Sweep

The Cubs are playing their best baseball of the entire season right now, blowing out the Orioles at Camden Yards Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep of the American League East leaders. Justin Steele was absolutely rolling for a second consecutive start, tossing seven shutout innings on just 70 pitches.

Seiya Suzuki got Chicago on the board with a double off of Albert Suárez that scored Michael Busch the 3rd inning. Busch and Suzuki hit back-to-back two-baggers in the 5th that drove home three more runs and made it a 4-0 game.

The Cubs added four more on lefty reliever Cole Irvin, starting with a long opposite-field solo shot from Dansby Swanson in the 6th. In the following frame, Suzuki had an RBI triple, Ian Happ an RBI double, and Swanson an RBI single to bring the advantage to 8-0.

gO, dansby, gO. pic.twitter.com/wDMUUOFFiT

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 12, 2024

Steele could have gone the distance on Thursday but it wasn’t necessary with the big lead. Drew Smyly and Jorge López mopped up the final two innings as the North Siders completed the shutout and sweep. (Box score)

Key Moment

The two-run double Busch ripped into the right field corner that increased the lead to 3-0 in the 3rd inning gave the Cubs, and Steele, some critical breathing room. They never looked back from their second shutout win in the series and third in the last four games.

Why the Cubs Won

The outstanding starting pitching is finally being supported by the offense. When that happens, a win is the result a vast majority of the time.

Stats That Matter

• Steele is pitching like a bona fide ace right now and is having a very happy birthday: 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K, and 0 BB.
• Suzuki had three extra-base hits and three RBI on Thursday.
• Swanson has four knocks in the last two days and is hitting the ball very hard.

Bottom Line

Well, that was a very unexpected performance by the Cubs with the much maligned lineup roaring back to life. Hard to know if this is at all sustainable but one thing is for sure, Busch appears to be a dude that is going to be around for a while. That was one thing Chicago got right this offseason.

On Deck

The Cubs head to St. Louis to wrap up the first half with four games against the Cardinals starting Friday at 7:15pm CT. Kyle Hendricks is back after leaving his last outing early, taking on Sonny Gray in a contest airing exclusively on Apple TV+ with radio coverage from 670 The Score.