Cubs complete sweep of Angels
CHICAGO -- Jason Hammel extended a personal winning streak to five while the Chicago Cubs completed a four-game season sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday night.
Hammel (12-5) allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two through a seven-inning outing. He also had a fifth inning hit and scored a run.
The victory was the eighth straight for Chicago (71-41) and second in-a-row over Los Angeles (49-64) in the abbreviated Wrigley Field series.
Angels starter Ricky Nolasco (4-9) departed after six innings and 102 pitches. He allowed two runs on six hits, struck out six and walked one while suffering his fifth loss in his last six games with decisions dating back to June 23.
Hammel has not lost since Aug. 1 when he gave up 10 runs on nine hits in a four-plus inning outing against the New York Mets.
Cubs reliever Pedro Strop replaced Hammel to start the eighth but appeared to injure his left leg while chasing Yunel Escobar's lead-off grounder down the third base line. He was helped off the field and replaced by left-hander Travis Wood.
In the meantime, Escobar reached first and advanced to third on Kole Calhoun's double to center off Wood, who was immediately replaced by right-hander Carl Edwards Jr.
Escobar then scored on Albert Pujols' one-out sacrifice grounder to second but Edwards got Andrelton Simmons to ground out to short to escape any more damage.
Cubs shortstop Addison Russell matched the run in the bottom of the eighth with his 13th home run of the season, a two-out solo shot to left-center.
Left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his 24th save and fourth with the Cubs since arriving in a late July trade.
The Cubs broke the ice with two outs in the third to claim a 1-0 lead. Kris Bryant doubled to the left field wall and scored on Anthony Rizzo's bouncer into short right that Angels second baseman Gregorio Petit had trouble getting a glove on.
In the fourth, Los Angeles had Mike Trout at third and Andrelton Simmons at second after a two-out double steal while Hammel walked Geovany Soto on a full count to load the bases.
But Nolasco followed with a weak tap in front of the plate and was thrown out by catcher Willson Contreras.
The Cubs made it 2-0 in the fifth as Hammel singled to right, reached second on a wild pitch and scored when as Dexter Fowler bounced a one-out double down the left field line.
NOTES: Los Angeles moves on to a four-game series at the Cleveland Indians beginning Thursday as RHP Corey Kluber (11-8, 3.22 ERA) faces Indians RHP Jhoulys Chacin (3-7, 5.27). The Indians have beaten the Angels in five of the past six meetings. ... Chicago's homestand continues with a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Thursday followed by four games with the Milwaukee Brewers, including a split doubleheader Tuesday to make up an April 27 rainout. ... The Cubs send LHP Jon Lester (11-5, 3.07 ERA) against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (10-7, 3.29) in the Thursday series opener. ... INF Tommy La Stella remained on the Cubs' inactive list on Wednesday. It has been 12 days since he was assigned to Triple-A Iowa and failed to report.