Cubs blanked in Boston nightcap as Abreu's eighth-inning double seals sweep

The Cubs had another chance at Fenway Park on Friday night after losing the first game of their doubleheader. Their pitchers kept Boston off the board for seven innings, but Chicago never scored. Wilyer Abreu's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth gave the Red Sox a 2-0 win and a sweep of the two games. The official MLB play log and box score show that Abreu's hit produced the nightcap's only runs.

David Peterson gave Chicago five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. Javier Assad followed with 2 1/3 innings without a hit, but walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa to open the eighth. Ryan Rolison took over, retired Roman Anthony on a strikeout after Connor Wong's flyout, then walked Jahmai Jones. Abreu doubled to center with two outs, scoring both runners. Assad was charged with the first run and the loss; Rolison was charged with the second. MLB's video of Abreu's double captures the swing that decided the game.

The Cubs had seven hits to Boston's four, but the difference was what each club did with its opportunities. Seiya Suzuki walked and Michael Busch singled in the first to put two on with one out. Michael Conforto flied out and Ian Happ popped out. In the fifth, Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw singled to put runners at the corners with two outs, but Pete Crow-Armstrong grounded out. Chicago also grounded into two double plays, one in the second inning and another in the fourth.

Suzuki reached three times, with two singles and a walk. Busch and Hoerner each had two hits, and Shaw had one. Chicago's final scoring chance did not develop: Suzuki singled with two outs in the eighth, and Busch struck out. Boston had no need to bat in the ninth after Jedixson Paez finished a five-inning relief appearance. Paez allowed three hits, walked nobody and struck out five after starter Brayan Bello worked four scoreless innings. MLB's clip of the final out confirms the 2-0 finish.

Boston won the opener 4-3 after Chicago let a three-run lead slip. The nightcap was a different kind of loss: the Cubs' pitching gave them room to win, but the offense could not turn seven hits into a run. Those are separate games and separate results; Friday's second defeat leaves Chicago without a win from the doubleheader.