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Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs ride hot stretch into finale vs. Orioles

Jul 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4), left celebrates with outfielder Michael Conforto (20) after defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn ImagesJul 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4), left celebrates with outfielder Michael Conforto (20) after defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

It doesn’t matter where the production is coming from for the Chicago Cubs, as long as it keeps coming.

The lineup has been stout at times, particularly this week in a pair of road victories against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Cubs will vie for a sweep of the three-game series on Thursday afternoon; they’ve won 12 of their last 15 games overall.

The Orioles have a three-game losing streak for the third time in less than a month. Even a victory Thursday won’t prevent Baltimore’s fourth consecutive series loss at home.

Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has 14 home runs since June 3 after going deep twice Wednesday night as part of Chicago’s five-homer outburst in a 9-7 victory over the Orioles.

In the two games in Baltimore, seven different Cubs have driven in at least one run. Chicago has had production at the bottom of the batting order and the top.

“Getting contributions at different places of the lineup is something that is going to make us consistent, and that’s important,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

The Orioles hit four home runs Wednesday, including two from pinch hitters.

“That’s what I love about the guys that, they’re not in the lineup, they know their name could be called and they’re ready for it,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. “And our guys did a good job of fighting back.”

The starting time of the series finale has been moved up five hours to 1:35 p.m. ET because of weather concerns.

The Orioles will have left-hander Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.70 ERA) as their starting pitcher. He has had four strong outings in a row, giving up a total of three runs across 24 innings while going 3-1.

Rogers avoided giving up a run in five innings Friday in a 3-0 victory at Cincinnati despite issuing a season-high five walks.

He has faced the Cubs once in his career, going 0-1 despite giving up one run in eight innings and striking out eight last August.

The Cubs will turn to a left-handed starter for the second time in the series, with David Peterson (4-7, 6.75 ERA) getting the nod. He has won once since May 21 and will try to make amends from his last performance, when St. Louis racked up 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings against him on Friday in the Cardinals’ 17-1 victory.

Peterson is 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in five all-time outings covering 23 2/3 innings against Baltimore.

The Orioles didn’t score in six innings Tuesday against Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, adding to what has been a troublesome trend for Baltimore’s offense against left-handers.

The Cubs might have other pitching options this week.

Right-hander Jameson Taillon, who has been on the injured list, is with the team in Baltimore after working a brief rehabilitation outing Sunday for High-A South Bend. He’s not scheduled to pitch right away, but if the rotation is altered, “then he would be available on a limited basis,” Counsell told the Chicago Tribune.

One thing that has been clear to Counsell is that the Orioles will alter their lineup with in-game strategy, so that will factor into making moves to the Chicago bullpen. Baltimore had pinch-hit home runs from Tyler O’Neill and Coby Mayo on Wednesday.

“Knowing they’re going to unload benches at times,” Counsell said.

–Field Level Media

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Nneka Ogwumike, Rae Burrell guide Sparks to victory over Fever

Jul 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA;  Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass as Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) defends during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesJul 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass as Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) defends during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Nneka Ogwumike scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Rae Burrell finished with 22 points, and the Los Angeles Sparks earned a 106-92 win over the visiting Indiana Fever on Wednesday.

Los Angeles (9-11) ended a run of three consecutive losses, all blowouts, since Kelsey Plum sustained a left leg injury on June 21. Included in that run was a 111-87 setback at Indiana on June 27.

However, in the return matchup on Wednesday, the Sparks found the right combination of balanced offense and defense to pull out of their tailspin. Every Los Angeles player who saw the floor scored, led by all five starters reaching double figures.

Dearica Hamby posted 21 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Ariel Atkins and Erica Wheeler each added 12 points. Wheeler dished six assists and Ogwumike added five.

Burrell shot 9-for-15 from the floor to finish two points shy of matching her career high. Burrell also delivered in clutch moments during the second half, including one fourth-quarter sequence in which she dished to a streaking Erica Wheeler for a basket, then on the ensuing possession attacked the rim for a twisting reverse layup.

Burrell’s big night also included a pair of 3-pointers, as the Sparks shot 9-for-20 from long range to match their total of made triples from the previous two games combined.

Indiana (12-9) welcomed Caitlin Clark back to the lineup after she missed two games with a back injury, but the third-year guard was limited to 15:39 of playing time. She shot just 4-of-12 from the floor and finished with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and four turnovers.

Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 29 points to pace Indiana. Damiris Dantas scored 12, and Tyasha Harris added 10. Monique Billings grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Fever were without leading rebounder and key interior presence Aliyah Boston, however. She was scratched from the lineup due to a right leg injury.

–Field Level Media

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Pete Crow-Armstrong homers twice as Cubs outslug Orioles

Jul 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) is congratulated by infielder Michael Busch (29) after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn ImagesJul 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) is congratulated by infielder Michael Busch (29) after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two of Chicago’s five home runs and the Cubs held on to beat the host Baltimore Orioles 9-7 on Wednesday night.

Crow-Armstrong’s second long ball of the game and 21st of the season put the Cubs ahead for good, 4-3 in the fifth inning, before the teams combined for nine runs across the last three innings.

Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back solo blasts in the fifth, then two batters later, Crow-Armstrong went deep. Crow-Armstrong earlier hit a solo shot in the third inning, and Seiya Suzuki added a three-run homer in the seventh.

The Cubs, who will go for a sweep of the three-game series on Thursday, produced their offense with eight hits and four walks. They won for the eighth time in the past 10 games.

Tyler O’Neill hit two home runs across the final three innings for the Orioles, and Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo also homered. Jackson Holliday rapped four of Baltimore’s 14 hits, but he never scored a run in what became the team’s third consecutive loss.

Right-hander Colin Rea (7-5) won his second start in a row, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two. Jacob Webb was called upon to pitch the ninth, and the right-hander notched his fourth save by retiring the side in order.

Baltimore right-hander Dean Kremer (1-2) gave up four runs on six hits in five innings in his second start after coming off the injury list. He fanned four and walked one.

Following Crow-Armstrong’s third-inning home run, the Orioles built a 3-1 lead on Alonso’s two-run homer in the fourth.

Chicago’s three-homer fifth inning was followed by a five-run seventh for a 9-3 advantage.

O’Neill entered the game in the seventh as a pinch hitter and delivered his first homer of the game. The Orioles tacked on another run on Taylor Ward’s run-scoring single but stranded two runners on base while trailing 9-5.

Mayo slugged a pinch-hit homer in the eighth before O’Neill made it back-to-back blasts for the Orioles.

–Field Level Media

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Mookie Betts' tiebreaking hit sends Dodgers to series win over Rockies

Jul 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) hits a 2-RBI single in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesJul 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) hits a 2-RBI single in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Mookie Betts delivered a go-ahead single in the eighth inning and Kyle Tucker drove in two runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a 4-3 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Roki Sasaki rebounded from a shaky outing last week to allow three runs over six innings as the Dodgers managed to win two of three in the series despite seeing early leads erased in all three games. Los Angeles improved to 21-3 at home against Colorado since 2023.

Edgardo Henriquez (4-0) recorded one out to earn the win, and Tanner Scott pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 13th save.

In his first career start and second appearance, Colorado’s Gabriel Hughes allowed three runs over six innings, and he retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced. Kyle Karros and Edouard Julien homered for the Rockies, who played a trio of one-run games against Los Angeles.

The Dodgers were quick to get to Hughes in the opening inning. Tommy Edman singled with one out, Freddie Freeman doubled and Betts walked to load the bases. Edman scored on a wild pitch, and Tucker later delivered a two-out, two run single for a 3-0 lead.

Karros and Julien both went deep in the second inning, cutting the Rockies’ deficit to 3-2. It was Karros’ eighth of the season and second ever at Dodger Stadium, where his father, Eric Karros, holds the ballpark record with 130 homers.

Colorado pulled even in the third inning when Brett Sullivan walked and ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly by Mickey Moniak.

Hughes allowed four hits and two walks while fanning seven. Sasaki gave up four hits and a walk, and he struck out five.

The Rockies missed out on a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning when they had runners on second and third with no outs and the bases loaded with one out. TJ Rumfield struck out against Alex Vesia, and Karros flied out against Henriquez.

Edman and Freeman hit one-out singles in the bottom of the eighth off Antonio Senzatela (8-1) before Betts provided the tiebreaking hit.

–Field Level Media

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