Matthew Boyd bounced back with a strong outing on Wednesday afternoon as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 at Wrigley Field to win the rubber game of the three-game series.
The veteran left-hander struck out 10 batters and pitched into the sixth inning, helping Chicago recover from its opening-day struggles and secure its second win of the young season. The Cubs backed Boyd with timely hitting during a decisive five-run third inning that gave them control of the game.
Chicago received contributions throughout the lineup. Nico Hoerner collected three hits, Matt Shaw drove in two runs, and Alex Bregman reached base three times. The Cubs also took advantage of defensive mistakes and capitalized whenever Los Angeles left openings.
For the Angels, the loss continued an inconsistent start under first-year manager Kurt Suzuki. Los Angeles struggled offensively for most of the afternoon before briefly threatening late against Boyd.
Boyd Rebounds After Rough Opening Day
Boyd entered Wednesday seeking a stronger performance after a difficult first outing of the season against Washington.
The left-hander responded with sharp command and far better execution. Boyd allowed only two runs, one earned, over 5 2/3 innings while limiting the Angels to four hits. He consistently attacked hitters with his fastball-slider combination and generated swings and misses throughout the game.
His 10 strikeouts highlighted a dominant stretch in the middle innings where Los Angeles struggled to make consistent contact.
Boyd retired several key Angels hitters in pressure situations and kept Mike Trout quiet for most of the afternoon. The Angels rarely mounted sustained offense until the sixth inning, when Boyd finally encountered trouble.
The performance represented an important early-season correction for Chicago’s rotation after Boyd surrendered six runs during his opening-day start.
Cubs Break Game Open In Third Inning
Chicago seized momentum during a five-run third inning that completely changed the game.
Miguel Amaya started the rally by drawing a walk before scoring all the way from first base on Nico Hoerner’s double into the left-center field gap. Hoerner’s aggressive baserunning immediately put pressure on the Angels defense.
Alex Bregman followed with an RBI single to drive in Hoerner. Dansby Swanson later added a sacrifice fly that scored Ian Happ.
The Cubs continued to apply pressure with two outs. Matt Shaw delivered an RBI single before Pete Crow-Armstrong added another run-scoring hit to cap the inning.
By the end of the frame, Chicago held a commanding 5-0 lead.
The inning also included frustration for Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, who wanted a replay review on Amaya’s close play at the plate. Umpires denied the challenge because the request came too late, leaving Suzuki visibly upset in the dugout.
Angels Struggle To Support Kikuchi
Los Angeles starter Yusei Kikuchi battled through difficult conditions but could not contain Chicago’s lineup during the decisive third inning.
The left-hander allowed five runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. While he settled down after the early damage, the Angels offense failed to provide enough support to keep the game competitive.
Kikuchi showed flashes of effectiveness at times, but Chicago consistently took advantage of scoring opportunities. The Cubs lineup forced long at-bats and applied pressure whenever runners reached base.
The windy conditions at Wrigley Field added another challenge for both pitching staffs, though Boyd handled them far more effectively.
Angels Finally Break Through In Sixth
Los Angeles finally generated offense in the sixth inning after remaining quiet through most of the game.
Zach Neto, who finished with two hits, started the rally before Jo Adell lined an RBI single to bring home the Angels’ first run.
Moments later, Mike Trout scored on a defensive error by Bregman at third base. The sequence cut Chicago’s lead to 5-2 and briefly gave Los Angeles hope of a comeback.
Boyd exited shortly afterward following his strongest stretch of the season so far.
Chicago’s bullpen prevented the Angels from building further momentum and quickly restored control of the game.
Shaw Continues Strong Early Impression
Rookie Matt Shaw continued to provide productive at-bats for Chicago.
Shaw recorded two hits and drove in two runs, including another RBI single in the seventh inning that extended the Cubs lead to 6-2.
The additional run came after Trout misplayed a leadoff fly ball in center field. Carson Kelly reached on the error and later scored on Shaw’s hit.
Shaw’s steady offensive contributions helped round out a balanced performance from Chicago’s lineup. Several Cubs hitters contributed key moments, and the offense consistently pressured Los Angeles throughout the afternoon.
Defensive Mistakes Hurt Angels Again
Los Angeles played solid defense at times but committed several costly mistakes that contributed directly to the loss.
The Angels could not recover after allowing Chicago’s big third inning, and Trout’s seventh-inning error created another insurance run for the Cubs.
Combined with the failed replay challenge earlier in the game, the afternoon reflected a frustrating series finale for the Angels.
Chicago, meanwhile, played cleaner baseball overall and capitalized on nearly every opportunity presented.
Cubs Build Momentum Early In Season
The win allowed Chicago to take the series and provided a much-needed positive sign for the starting rotation after some uneven early-season performances.
Boyd’s rebound outing gave the Cubs stability, while the offense continued to show balance from top to bottom.
Hoerner’s three-hit afternoon led the way offensively, but contributions came throughout the lineup. Chicago consistently forced Los Angeles pitchers into difficult situations and maintained pressure from the opening innings onward.
The Cubs now move forward with growing confidence as they prepare for a road series against Cleveland.
Up Next
The Angels return home after an off day and will open a weekend series Friday night against the Seattle Mariners. Left-hander Reid Detmers is scheduled to start for Los Angeles against Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo.
The Cubs head to Cleveland for a weekend series against the Guardians. Chicago plans to start Cade Horton in Friday’s opener while Cleveland counters with Joey Cantillo.