Clarke Schmidt and Nestor Cortes combined for a four-hit shutout, helping the New York Yankees secure their 32nd consecutive winning season with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
Schmidt, making his first appearance since May 26, threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits. Cortes (9-10) closed out the game in his first relief appearance since 2021.
With Baltimore losing 7-1 to Tampa Bay, the Yankees (82-60) reclaimed the top spot in the AL East, holding a half-game lead over the Orioles.
Cortes admitted frustration over his relief role but embraced the challenge. “I’ll never back down. Whether I’m happy or not, my team will always get my best effort,” he said.
Schmidt, returning from a right lat strain, threw 75 pitches, 44 for strikes. “I felt strong and not fatigued at all,” he remarked.
This marked New York’s second consecutive shutout, sealing their first series win since late August. The Yankees’ 32-season streak of winning records is second only to their 39-season run from 1926-1964.
Chicago (72-70), fighting for the third NL wild card, has now lost four of five games on a pivotal homestand, struggling offensively with just three runs in five games, excluding a 12-0 win against Pittsburgh.
“We believe we have a playoff-caliber team, but we need to play better,” said outfielder Ian Happ.
Cubs pitcher Javier Assad (7-5) gave up one earned run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings.
New York’s first run came when Austin Wells grounded out to drive in Gleyber Torres in the opening inning. Aaron Judge made it 2-0 in the sixth with a double steal, scoring on a throwing error by Cubs catcher Christian Bethancourt.
Judge, leading the majors with 51 homers, went 0-for-3 and has now gone 11 games without a home run, his longest streak of the season.
Chicago’s best chance came in the fifth, but they couldn’t capitalize. After Pete Crow-Armstrong was caught stealing and Patrick Wisdom tripled, Cortes got out of the jam by inducing a foul out from Bethancourt.
Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo, in his second game back at Wrigley Field since his trade in 2021, received warm cheers and tipped his cap to the crowd before his first at-bat.