Guardians swept by Cubs, lose seventh straight game

The upcoming All-Star break is coming at a great time for the Guardians. With its offense letting it down once again, Cleveland was swept by the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday night, losing 1-0 in 10 innings, as its losing skid stretched to a season-high seven games. Closer Emmanuel Clase allowed the game-winning run in the 10th on a sacrifice fly. The Guardians outhit Chicago but were shut out for the 10th time. Cubs starter Cade Horton allowed five hits and struck out five over seven innings. "His change-up was really good. The change-up was really the equalizer today," manager Stephen Vogt said of Horton. "We just couldn't get much going. The one inning we did, we made a couple (baserunning) mistakes and it cost us. That's just the way it's going right now." The struggles continued for Jose Ramirez, who went hitless in the series and is mired in an 0-for-21 skid. "He looks in between, which doesn't happen to Hosey much," Vogt said. "It's been a few games now, but with Hosey we never worry. It's one click away. "It looked like this series they pitched him pretty tough. They kinda had him in between." Left-hander Joey Cantillo was called up from Triple-A Columbus to fill in for schedule starter Luis Castillo, who was placed on the non-disciplinary leave list prior to the game. Cantillo pitched well, holding Chicago scoreless on two hits over the first 3 1 1/3 innings, while striking out five. Cleveland's bullpen retired 16 hitters in a row from the fourth until Dansby Swanson lined his second single of the game with two outs in the ninth off Clase. "We pitched outstanding tonight. Everybody that came in just threw the ball great," Vogt said. Chris Flexen (5-0), the Cubs fourth reliever, pitched a perfect 10th for the win. NL Central-leading Chicago improved to 52-35 and moved four games ahead of second-place Milwaukee. Steven Kwan had two singles in a game with no extra-base hits. Back-to-back singles by Daniel Schneemann and Bo Naylor put runners at first and third with one out in the fifth. Cubs backup catcher Reese McGuire threw out Naylor as he tried to steal second, then Brayan Rocchio bounced out to end the threat. The Guardians are 9-19 since June 1. Up next Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.64 ERA) starts Friday against the Tigers in Cleveland. Cubs RHP Colin Rea (5-3, 4.37 ERA) faces St. Louis RHP Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.76) on Friday afternoon at Wrigley.