BALTIMORE (AP) — Justin Steele pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Celia Suzuki hit three extra-base hits and drove in three runs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-0 on Thursday to complete a three-game series sweep.
Dansby Swanson returned to Chicago, which beat the AL East leaders 21-2 and became the first team to sweep the Orioles since Tampa Bay did so in August 2021.
Chicago completed the sweep with a pair of shutouts. The Orioles had not gone back-to-back games without a run since July 23-24, 2021, during a season in which they posted a disastrous 52-110 record.
Steele (2-3) celebrated his 29th birthday with a dominant performance. He retired the first 11 batters and did not allow a single runner to pass second base. He struck out four and walked none.
Venezuelan Albert Suarez (5-3) allowed four runs and six hits in five innings.
For the Dominican Cubs, Alexander Canario was 1-0 and Christopher Morel was 4-0. Puerto Rican Tomas Nido went 1-for-4 and scored one run.
For the Orioles, Venezuelan Anthony Santander is 3-1. Dominican Jorge Mateo is 3-1.
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