The game was effectively decided before the third inning began. Chicago's seven-run second inning at Wrigley Field gave the Cubs all the cushion they needed, and despite a late Colorado charge, the final score read 8-6 in favor of the home side.
Javier Assad absorbed the early run support and made it hold. He worked 5.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 1 strikeout and no walks on 92 pitches, earning his fifth win against one loss, carrying a 3.89 ERA. Jacob Webb closed it out, recording his second save of the season despite allowing 1 run in the ninth.
The second inning unraveled quickly for Colorado starter Sean Sullivan. Matt Shaw tripled to center, scoring both Alex Bregman and Ian Happ to give Chicago the lead. Carson Kelly doubled to right, scoring Shaw. Then Dansby Swanson homered to left center — 384 feet — with Kelly aboard, pushing the lead to 5-0. Seiya Suzuki doubled to left, scoring Nico Hoerner, and Bregman capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Suzuki. Seven runs, one inning. Swanson finished 1-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Shaw went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Pete Crow-Armstrong added a solo home run to right in the fourth, extending the lead to 8-1.
Sullivan lasted only 4 innings, surrendering all 8 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks, taking his first loss of the season. His ERA: 10.29. Zach Agnos provided 3 innings of relief, allowing just 1 hit and 0 runs. For Colorado, Sterlin Thompson was the lone offensive bright spot, homering twice — to left in the third and to right center in the fifth — finishing 3-for-4 with 2 HR and 2 RBI. Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer to center in the eighth, and Kyle Karros added a solo shot in the ninth, but the deficit was never small enough to matter.
Chicago moved to 38-36, while Colorado fell to 28-46.