Cubs Secure 80th Win as Palencia Records 22nd Save

Daniel Palencia secured his 22nd save of the season to help the Chicago Cubs achieve their 80th win with a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves, showcasing strong pitching with a 2.16 ERA and a fastball consistently over 98 mph. However, Palencia struggled later in the month, notably surrendering a walk-off triple to the Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak during a 6-5 loss that prevented the Cubs from sweeping the Rockies at Coors Field. Despite the defeat, the Cubs demonstrated resilience with an eighth-inning three-run homer by Ian Happ to tie the game before the Rockies' walk-off hit ended it. The Cubs have a soft schedule ahead with many home games, offering an opportunity to build momentum for the playoffs. Key players during the Rockies series included Kyle Tucker, who had three hits, and Matthew Boyd, who pitched six innings with moderate success. The Cubs are set to return to Wrigley Field to begin a series against the Braves, aiming to improve their position in the division race.