Fri Jul 04 18:20:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Cubs Sweep Guardians in Walk-Off Thriller, Rookie Horton Shines**

**CHICAGO, IL -** The Chicago Cubs capped off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians with a dramatic 1-0 victory Thursday at Wrigley Field, thanks to a walk-off sacrifice fly by rookie Matt Shaw.

Shaw, who had been hitting the ball hard all game but directly at defenders, came through in the bottom of the 10th inning. With one out and Nico Hoerner on third, Shaw lifted a ball to deep center field against Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. The ball was caught on the warning track, but it was deep enough to easily score Hoerner and secure the win.

“I definitely knew off the bat,” Shaw said. “Obviously, a great win for us tonight in a really close game and just a really exciting moment for me.”

While Shaw provided the game-winning moment, rookie right-hander Cade Horton stole the show. Horton delivered his best performance as a Cub, pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out five. This was a significant turnaround after allowing 10 earned runs in his previous two starts combined.

“It’s huge,” Horton said. “Success builds confidence and so just continue building on that. Enjoy it today, but tomorrow it’s back to work.”

Manager Craig Counsell praised Horton’s mental fortitude after his previous struggles, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and staying in the present. The bullpen, featuring Ryan Brasier, Ryan Pressly, and Chris Flexen, also played a key role, shutting down the Guardians’ offense in the late innings.

The sweep marks the Cubs’ first since late May and comes at a crucial time as they navigate a challenging schedule in the NL Central. While they maintain their division lead, Counsell emphasized the importance of consistency and improvement rather than focusing on streaks.

The series wasn’t without its hiccups. In Wednesday’s 5-4 win, a baserunning blunder by Pete Crow-Armstrong led to an inning-ending out after he overran third base. Counsell acknowledged that both Crow-Armstrong and third base coach Quintin Berry could have handled the situation better.

However, the overall success of the series, fueled by strong pitching performances from Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga, has provided a significant boost as the Cubs enter a critical stretch against division rivals.

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