Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/2/25): Orioles 4, Cubs 3 – Bullpen Wastes Boyd Gem

The Cubs and Orioles played the second game of their series on a bright Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in which the home team donned number 23 to honor Ryne Sandberg. Chicago got an outstanding starting pitching effort but the bullpen squandered it and Baltimore went on to win.

The North Siders took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd, scoring a pair of runs against starter Tomoyuki Sugano. Nico Hoerner hit an RBI double and Reese McGuire added a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game. Matthew Boyd was very strong from the opening frame and kept the O’s off the board.

Hoerner brought home an insurance run with a single in the bottom of the 4th after new addition Willi Castro tripled to increase the Cubs’ margin to 3-0. Boyd eventually went seven innings and didn’t allow any runs.

The Cubs had a bullpen meltdown in the top of the 8th to give up the lead. Ryan Brasier allowed the first two runners to reach and was then replaced by Caleb Thielbar with one out. Jordan Westburg had a two-out RBI single and Gunnar Henderson hit a go-ahead three-run homer through the wind to give Baltimore a 4-3 advantage.

The Cubs got two runners on the bottom of the 9th, but could not come through and the Orioles secured the one-run victory. (Box score)

Key Moment

Baltimore began the 8th inning with a leadoff walk and things went downhill from there.

Why the Cubs Lost

The usually reliable bullpen just completely lost it for one inning and the lineup did not produce enough offense to overcome it.

Stats That Matter

• Boyd was brilliant and deserved a win: 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 8 K, 0 BB.
• Hoerner collected three hits and two RBI while playing shortstop.
• Castro had a single in addition to his triple and played well at second base in his debut.

Bottom Line

That has to be one of the most frustrating losses of the season for the Cubs after getting a terrific performance by their ace. Chicago has been in a holding pattern for about a month with a 7-7 record since the break. A hot streak had better be coming, because if not, the Brewers might run away with the division title.

On Deck

The rubber match of the series is Sunday afternoon at 1:20pm CT. Colin Rea faces off against Brandon Young in a game broadcast on Marquee with a radio feed on 670 The Score.