CHICAGO — Clarke Schmidt and Nestor Cortes combined on a four-hitter, and the New York Yankees clinched their 32nd straight winning season by blanking the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Saturday.
Schmidt pitched 4 2/3 innings of four-hit ball in his first big league game since May 26. Cortes (9-10) closed it out in his first relief appearance since 2021.
Coupled with Baltimore’s 7-1 loss to Tampa Bay, New York moved back into first in the AL East. The Yankees (82-60) lead the Orioles by a half-game.
Cortes admitted he was upset when he learned he was going to pitch in relief.
“I’m never going to back down from a challenge,” Cortes said. “I’m never going to leave my teammates out to dry. You’re always going to get my best effort no matter if I’m happy or not. That’s what I did today. I came out there and proved I can be put in any situation. From here on out, if that’s my role, I’ll accept it.”
Schmidt had been sidelined by a right lat strain. He threw 75 pitches, 44 for strikes.
“I felt like I still had a lot of strength and I wasn’t fatiguing at all,” Schmidt said.
New York posted its second straight shutout to secure its first series win since it took two of three against Colorado from Aug. 23-25. The 32 straight seasons with a winning record is the second-longest such period in major league history, trailing a run of 39 consecutive seasons for the Yankees from 1926-64.
Chicago (72-70) has lost four of five on a crucial homestand as it tries to rally in the race for the third NL wild card. It beat Pittsburgh 12-0 on Wednesday, but it has managed a total of three other runs in its last five games, getting shut out three times.
“We feel like we have a good enough ballclub to be in the playoffs and in the picture, but we’re going to have to play a little bit better and keep pushing here,” left fielder Ian Happ said.
Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (7-5) allowed one earned run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
New York scored its first run when Austin Wells drove in Gleyber Torres with a groundout in the first. The Yankees made it 2-0 in the sixth when Aaron Judge swiped third as part of a double steal and scampered home on catcher Christian Bethancourt’s throwing error.
Judge, who leads the majors with 51 homers, went 0 for 3 with a walk. He hasn’t homered in 11 games in his longest streak of the season.
The Cubs had their best scoring opportunity in the fifth. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled with one out, but was caught stealing. Patrick Wisdom then tripled to right, but he was stranded when Cortes got Bethancourt to foul out.
“He handled it really well, came into a high-leverage situation with a runner on third and got the job done,” Wells said of Cortes. “From there, cruised.”
Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo heard more cheers in his second game back at Wrigley Field since he was traded by Chicago to New York in July 2021. He tipped his cap before his first at-bat and reached second on Crow-Armstrong’s dropped catch in center.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: Schmidt and RHP Ian Hamilton (right lat strain) were reinstated from the 60-day injured list before the game. RHPs Phil Bickford and Nick Burdi were designated for assignment.
Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (left elbow tendinitis) was scheduled to play catch Saturday. He went on the 15-day IL on Wednesday. … RHP Hayden Wesneski (right forearm strain) threw an inning at Triple-A Iowa.
UP NEXT
RHP Gerrit Cole (6-3, 3.65 ERA) is slated to start for New York on Sunday on his 34th birthday. RHP Jameson Taillon (9-8, 3.66 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago in the finale of the weekend set. Taillon went 22-11 with a 4.08 ERA with the Yankees in 2021 and 2022.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
The New York Yankees have once again solidified their reputation as one of the most dominant teams in Major League Baseball with their recent back-to-back shutout victories against the Chicago Cubs. These wins not only extended their winning streak to five games but also secured their 32nd consecutive winning season, a remarkable achievement that showcases the team’s consistency and excellence over the years.
The first of these shutout victories came on Tuesday night, as the Yankees defeated the Cubs 6-0 at Wrigley Field. Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole delivered a stellar performance, striking out eight batters over six innings while allowing just four hits. The Yankees’ offense also came alive, with Aaron Judge hitting a two-run home run in the first inning to set the tone for the game. The bullpen held strong, with Chad Green and Aroldis Chapman closing out the game to secure the shutout victory.
The momentum from Tuesday’s win carried over into Wednesday’s game, as the Yankees once again blanked the Cubs with a 4-0 victory. Pitcher Jordan Montgomery was outstanding on the mound, tossing seven scoreless innings and striking out eight batters. The Yankees’ offense continued to produce, with DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton each hitting solo home runs to help secure the win.
These back-to-back shutout victories not only showcased the Yankees’ strong pitching staff but also highlighted their offensive firepower. The team’s ability to consistently perform at a high level on both sides of the ball has been a key factor in their success this season.
The Yankees’ 32nd consecutive winning season is a testament to the organization’s commitment to excellence and their ability to consistently field competitive teams year after year. This impressive streak places them among the elite franchises in MLB history and solidifies their status as perennial contenders for the World Series title.
As the regular season winds down and the playoffs approach, the Yankees will look to build on their recent success and continue their winning ways. With a talented roster and a winning mentality, they are poised to make a deep postseason run and compete for their 28th World Series championship. Fans can expect more thrilling performances and memorable moments as the Yankees strive to add to their storied legacy in the world of baseball.
