Tsuyoshi Wada flirts with no-no in 2-1 Cubs win

For the third time this season, a Chicago Cubs hurler flirted with a no-hitter.

On Sunday, it was left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada who took a no-hitter into the top of the seventh inning at Wrigley Field, leading the Cubs to a 2-1 win in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, a team that was handed its first three-game sweep since May 12-14.

Steve Pearce led off the seventh for Baltimore (73-55) with a towering solo shot onto Waveland Ave., ending both the no-hit bid and the shutout, pulling the O’s within one, 2-1. However, that would be the only run the Baltimore offense could muster Sunday afternoon at Wrigley. In the series, several of their former teammates, who now pitch for Chicago, were dominant. Including Wada’s start, former O’s pitchers tossed 15 1/3 innings of two-run ball, scattering just six hits.

The Pearce long-ball, his 14th of the season, was the only Baltimore hit. Meanwhile, Chicago managed six hits, which was capped by Anthony Rizzo‘s double in the bottom of the sixth against Orioles’ right-hander Miguel Gonzalez. The double put the Cubs up 2-0. The first Chicago run came via an Arismendy Alcantara solo shot in the bottom of the fifth – the rookie’s fourth of the season.

Wada (4-1, 2.56 ERA) notched eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work, allowing the lone hit – the Pearce home run. Neil Ramirez and Pedro Strop combined for two scoreless frames and Hector Rondon nailed down his 21st save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

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