Cubs hand Tanaka first loss with 6-1 win

After failing to score against Masahiro Tanaka in New York, the Chicago Cubs were able to break through to hand him his first loss on the season in a 6-1 win on a rainy Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.91 ERA) took a ball off the hand on the first batter, then proceeded to sail his first test pitch over the catchers head. But, Hammel would remain in the game and pitch fairly effectively, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on four hits, while striking out six.

Emilio Bonifacio RBI single scored John Baker for a 1-0 lead after the first.

Mike Olt made it 2-0 in the fourth with another RBI single.

Mark Texiera would score Brett Gardner on a single to center to cut the lead to one, but that would be all for the Yankees offense.

The Cubs would add-on four more, two in the sixth and two more in the seventh to get them to the 6-1 final.

Olt finished with three RBIs, as he added a sacrifice fly and also took a bases loaded walk.

Tanaka (6-1, 2.39) finally looked mortal against the Cubs, allowing four runs, three earned and struck out seven while walking one over six innings. It was Tanaka’s first loss since August 2012, including his time in Japan.

The Yankees made the game interesting in the ninth, after Neil Ramirez walked Ichiro Suzuki to load the bases with two out. Closer Hector Rondon entered and got Derek Jeter to ground out to Starlin Castro to end the game.

The Cubs will look for the two-game series sweep and extend their winning streak to four with Jeff Samardzija (0-4, 1.62 ERA) taking the mound as he looks for his first win. He will be opposed by Chase Whitley (0-0, 0.00), who will be making only his second Major League appearance at 1:20 p.m. CT on CSN.

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