Cubs tee off on Framber Valdez, sail to win over Tigers

Field Level Media|published: Tue 21st July, 23:07 2026

Jul 21, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrates with right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) after they both scored against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The host Chicago Cubs sent 12 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning as they rolled to a comfortable 11-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was a perfect 2-for-2 with three walks and two RBIs for Chicago, which evened the series after the Tigers' 8-6 extra-innings win on Monday. Michael Conforto added a two-run homer.

Cubs starting pitcher David Peterson (5-7) was the beneficiary of the run support and took full advantage, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Detroit managed just three hits against Peterson, who struck out four and walked only one.

Dillon Dingler doubled in the second before hitting a two-run shot in the ninth to put the Tigers on the board. Dingler is now 6-for-8 with three long balls in the series.

The first seven Cubs reached base against Detroit starter Framber Valdez. The scoring started with cleanup hitter Carson Kelly knocking a two-run single to right, followed by a bloop RBI hit for Michael Busch and a run-scoring infield single for Ian Happ.

Crow-Armstrong -- who started the big inning with a leadoff triple -- drew a bases-loaded walk in his second at-bat and ended Valdez's night, as he was pulled in favor of Ty Madden.

Valdez (5-7) recorded just two outs in 42 pitches, giving up five hits and two walks. He was charged with all six runs in the inning after Madden issued another bases-loaded free pass to Seiya Suzuki.

Crow-Armstrong added on with an RBI single in the third.

Pinch-hitting for Kevin Alcantara two innings later, Conforto took Brenan Hanifee deep for his ninth home run of the season.

Madden and Hanifee did important mop-up work for Detroit after Valdez's early exit, covering 5 1/3 innings before giving way to position players Zach McKinstry and Jake Rogers to pitch the final two frames.

McKinstry gave up two runs in the seventh while Rogers held the Cubs off the scoreboard in the eighth.

Aaron Civale relieved Peterson in the seventh, making his first appearance for Chicago since being traded from the Athletics on Saturday.

Civale covered the final seven outs, allowing two runs on Dingler's homer.

--Field Level Media

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