Abreu breaks scoreless tie in eighth as Red Sox finish Cubs doubleheader sweep

For seven innings Friday night, Boston and Chicago were scoreless in the second game of their doubleheader. Wilyer Abreu changed that with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth. The Red Sox finished a 2-0 win and completed a same-day sweep of the Cubs, following their 4-3 comeback in the opener. The official MLB play log shows Abreu's double as the nightcap's only scoring play.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa drew a walk against Javier Assad to open the eighth. After Connor Wong flied out, Ryan Rolison replaced Assad. Rolison struck out Roman Anthony but walked Jahmai Jones, setting up two runners for Abreu. He drove a double to center, scoring both. The first run was charged to Assad and the second to Rolison. MLB's official video of Abreu's double shows the late swing that separated the teams.

The pitching story began well before that at-bat. Brayan Bello worked four scoreless innings for Boston, allowing four hits and one walk. Jedixson Paez followed with five scoreless innings in relief, giving up three hits without a walk and striking out five. MLB's clip of Paez finishing the game closes a combined shutout in which the Cubs collected seven hits but no runs.

Boston itself had only four hits. Chicago starter David Peterson kept the Red Sox scoreless for five innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. Assad then held Boston hitless for 2 1/3 innings before the leadoff walk in the eighth became consequential. The Red Sox did not need a long rally; they converted their best late opportunity after both starters had left.

Chicago had chances of its own. Seiya Suzuki walked and Michael Busch singled in the first, but two outs ended the inning. Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw singled in the fifth to put runners at the corners with two outs, and Pete Crow-Armstrong grounded out. The Cubs also hit into two double plays. The MLB box score shows both teams leaving six runners on base. Boston's difference was Abreu producing the one hit that brought two home.

The two wins came by different routes: a comeback from 3-0 down in the opener and a late shutout in the nightcap. The sweep is the combined result, but Friday's second game stands on Paez's extended relief work and Abreu's eighth-inning double.