\n Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley)
\n AP\n <\/p>\n
Sammy Sosa’s return to Wrigley Field featured plenty of home runs, appropriately enough.<\/p>\n
The visiting Seattle Mariners won this home-run race 4-2, however, and beat the Cubs 9-4 on Friday.<\/p>\n
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh went deep twice, giving him 29 for the season \u2014 the most by a catcher before the all-star break \u2014 and putting him on pace to hit 60. Move over, Slammin’ Sammy, here comes the Big Dumper.<\/p>\n
The Cubs started a battery of Seattle natives in pitcher Matthew Boyd and catcher Reese McGuire, so both are well-versed in the legend of Cal Raleigh.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, all my friends, everyone’s big fans of him,\u201d McGuire said. \u201cTo be able to do it from both sides of the plate is very impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
After an impeccable month, the Cubs bullpen finally hit a rough patch, giving up 7 earned runs. Caleb Thielbar saw a 17-game scoreless streak come to an end. He hadn’t given up an earned run since April 30 in Pittsburgh until Raleigh’s second home run in the seventh inning.<\/p>\n
Ryan Pressly had a run of 16 consecutive scoreless outings end with a sixth-inning homer by Mitch Garver. Genesis Cabrera then gave up Garver’s second homer, a 3-run shot in the ninth.<\/p>\n
\u201cPressly and Thielbar have been on incredible runs here, pitched wonderfully,\u201d Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. \u201cThey’re going to get to ball tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Boyd escaped serious injury when he somehow caught a screaming liner headed toward his face, hit by J.P. Crawford. Actually, Boyd turned a potential serious injury into a minor one. The catch ended the fifth inning, but Boyd left the game with a shoulder bruise.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe caught the ball, obviously, but the left shoulder took the brunt of it,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cHe had a pretty big bruise on his left shoulder \u2026 and it just stiffened up pretty quickly. So there was no way he could go back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
This wouldn’t be a terrible time for a quick trip to the injured list. Shota Imanaga was scheduled to throw for the Iowa Cubs on Friday and if all goes well, the expectation is he’ll return to the Cubs rotation in roughly five days. After the game Boyd was not concerned about the state of his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think more precautionary than anything,\u201d Boyd said. \u201cThe training staff did a good job getting a lot of inflammation out of there and whatnot. So yeah, I don’t foresee it being an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was tough to tell what would have happened if Boyd hadn’t caught the ball. He turned his head and stuck his glove out. Maybe the ball would have whizzed past his ear, but it’s a good thing Boyd didn’t have to find out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was scary because (my) view was obviously going right for his head,\u201d McGuire said. \u201cWhen he got the glove on it, that was good to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reliever Porter Hodge should also return from the injured list soon. Cabrera, who have up 6 earned runs the past two days, appears to be the odd man out for the corresponding roster move.<\/p>\n
Unless Boyd or another starter goes on the injured list, the Cubs will likely send either Ben Brown or Cade Horton back to Iowa to make room for Imanaga. Horton is set to start Saturday’s contest.<\/p>\n
McGuire and Ian Happ hit home runs Friday and, along with a Michael Busch 2-run single, put the Cubs ahead 4-2 at the end of five innings. Pete Crow-Armstrong had a rare rough day at the plate, with three foul pop-outs, plus a strikeout.<\/p>\n
The Cubs are 11-2 this season in series openers at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Cubs home game on Sunday, July 6 against St. Louis has been switched to a 5:10 p.m. start for an ESPN national broadcast.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Chicago Cubs’ Michael Busch (29) hits a two-run single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley)
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