Cubs Hang On for 6-5 Win Over Giants, Win First Three-Game Series Since Mid-May

The Chicago Cubs accomplished something on June 19 that they haven't accomplished since May 12. For the first time since Mother's Day weekend, the Cubs won a three-game series. Following a 5-2 win on Tuesday night, the Cubs needed a quality outing from Kyle Hendricks and plenty of offense to hang on and win over the San Francisco Giants on getaway day for the visitors.

Tale of the Tape

For the first time since May 17 , Kyle Hendricks started a game for the Cubs. Thanks to a turbulent season for the last standing member of the 2016 World Series team, Hendricks needed a big day. The Cubs had no problem designating Yan Gomes for assignment prior to the game, so the Cubs could part ways with aging veterans who aren't getting the job done.

The Cubs struck first as the Giants used their bullpen to finesse through Wednesday's game. In the bottom of the fourth, Ian Happ hit a ball to dead center on a rope, hitting the batter's eye for his ninth homer of the season.

Before the crowd settled in for the next batter, Dansby Swanson went back-to-back with Happ, hitting a second homer to right-center field after doing so on Tuesday. The two solo shots made it a 2-0 lead.

The Cubbies weren't done. Michael Busch walked and Miguel Amaya singled to put two on for Pete Crow-Armstrong. PCA laid down a bunt, and ran it out for a base hit. The chaos on the base paths forced a throwing error by third baseman Matt Chapman, and Busch scored as a result with Crow-Armstrong making it to second. The Cubs failed to add more runs, but they held a 3-0 lead through four innings.

The Giants got on the board in the sixth inning. A Thairo Estrada double and Brett Wisely single led to a run on a fielder's choice from Heliot Ramos. Following the run scoring, Hendricks was lifted after a gem of a start. The righty went 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits, one run, and one walk while striking out eight batters. The Professor took the Giants to summer school on Wednesday.

Drew Smyly worked out of a jam and ultimately pitched 1.1 strong innings of work.

The Cubs added in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a lead-off ground-rule double from Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki struck out. However, Cody Bellinger's single and Christopher Morel's walk gave the Cubs bases loaded with one down. Dansby Swanson delivered the insurance runs they needed with a two-RBI single to make it a 5-1 lead. After Swanson tried to steal second, he found himself in a rundown. But, a Giants folly allowed Swanson to get back to first and Morel to score, making it 6-1.

That said, this couldn't be easy for the Cubs. After loading the bases, former Cub Jorge Soler hit a grand slam to make it a one-run game. Mark Leiter Jr. and Tyson Miller combined to give up three and one of the runs, respectively.

After escaping the eighth with a 6-5 lead, the Cubs couldn't tack on more. Colton Brewer came on for the save. Despite allowing two baserunners via walks, Brewer got out of the jam and secured the Cubs' first three-game series win since mid-May. The Cubs defeated the Giants 6-5 at Wrigley Field to break their awful drought in terms of series wins.

It Finally Happened

The Cubs did it, they won a three-game series. The series win over the Giants improves the team's record to 36-39 and only one game out of the wild card. A deserving off day is in store on Thursday before the red-hot New York Mets venture to Wrigley for three games starting on Friday.

The Cubs did everything in this series that they needed to. All three games saw great starting pitching and ample offense. If the bullpen can dial it in, they'll be in great shape. However, that is a big if with a number of top arms still working back from injury.

Nonetheless, a series win is a series win and the Cubs will happily take it with the off day in the cards.

What's On Tap Next?

Entering play on Wednesday, the Mets are winners of seven straight games. They'll venture to Wrigley Field on Friday to begin a three-game set with the Cubs following the Thursday off day. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CDT with Shota Imanaga projected to be on the bump . The rest of the starters are still to be determined.

Related: Cubs, Mets Flexed to ESPN Sunday Night Baseball on June 23

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