How a Ken Griffey Jr. giveaway mitt turned Chicago Cubs\u2019 Matthew Boyd into a left-hander \u2014 literally<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In December, the 34-year-old signed with the Cubs on a two-year, $29 million free-agent contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n During a first half of the season in which the Cubs were without starters Justin Steele and Javier Assad, plus Shota Imanaga for close to two months, the addition of Boyd has proved pivotal toward keeping the rotation strong. Boyd has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 17 starts<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n The Cubs were hopeful about the addition in December, but there were questions about durability due to his injury history.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were very optimistic based on a very small sample, which is hard,\u201d Cubs President Jed Hoyer said. \u201cHe pitched really well, obviously pitched in the playoffs. We saw him firsthand. You never know exactly. He was a little bit of an unusual background, and so he\u2019s certainly exceeded expectations for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Photos: Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Boyd is now 8-3 on the season with a 2.65 ERA after Tuesday\u2019s win. He\u2019s just shy of 100 innings pitched (98\u2154) and has 87 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP.<\/p>\n Asked if his performance could be good enough to earn his first All-Star Game appearance, Boyd said it would be \u201cquite an honor.\u201d<\/p>\n He allowed just five hits Tuesday while striking out five and walking one.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was excellent again, it was efficient and it\u2019s just more of what we\u2019ve seen from Matt really the whole season,\u201d manager Craig Counsell said.<\/p>\n The Cubs took an early lead, scoring three runs in the second after four consecutive hits. First baseman Michael Busch drove in a run with a single and catcher Carson Kelly knocked in two more with a double. Kelly advanced to third on the play thanks to a throwing error.<\/p>\n Then things got weird.<\/p>\n The Cubs made all three outs on the basepaths. Kelly was tagged out at home trying to score on a ball that got past catcher Bo Naylor. Then Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw<\/a> each drew a walk \u2014 and each was picked off first base by Cleveland righty Gavin Williams.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a rough inning on the bases,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cIt was a rough inning.\u201d<\/p>\n Counsell noted that the pitch Naylor couldn\u2019t handle behind the plate barely grazed his glove, which allowed it to bounce hard off the brick backstop and right back to Naylor. Kelly was out by a mile.<\/p>\n As for the back-to-back pickoffs, they were simply good moves.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were aware Williams has a really good move, but he made a great move,\u201d Counsell said.<\/p>\n Designated hitter Seiya Suzuki hit his team-leading 23rd home run leading off the sixth. The Cubs added an insurance run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Kelly, his third RBI of the night.<\/p>\n Asked through an interpreter what has allowed his power surge, Suzuki said it starts with focusing on getting a good swing off.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my first priority,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I\u2019m being honest, I\u2019m not satisfied because there are times I am hitting home runs but there\u2019s times I\u2019m not. Being more consistent for the second half, that\u2019s one of my goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
![\"Guardians](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1751433130_112_CTC-L-cubs-guardians-0701-21_230963368.jpg\")
Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams tags out Cubs catcher Carson Kelly at home plate during the second inning Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n