CHICAGO (Interstat) — Matthew Boyd pitched six strong innings and the Chicago Cubs used a pair of two-run innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in front of 39,508 fans.

Boyd allowed one run on three hits and struck out four while walking none to improve to 6-1. The left-hander retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. Taj Bradley took the loss for Minnesota, falling to 9-4 after giving up five runs on seven hits over five innings.

The Cubs took an early lead in the bottom of the first when Michael Busch launched his 12th home run of the season to right field off Bradley. The solo shot came after Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki had been retired to start the inning. Alex Bregman struck out to end the frame, but Chicago held a 1-0 advantage.

Minnesota answered quickly in the top of the second. After Victor Caratini and Brooks Lee grounded out, Kody Clemens crushed his 17th home run of the year to right-center field, tying the game at 1-1. Ryan Kreidler then struck out on a foul tip to end the inning.

The Cubs regained control in the bottom of the second. Ian Happ grounded out to begin the inning, but Nico Hoerner followed with a single to right. Pedro Ramírez drew a walk after a successful challenge overturned an initial strike call, putting runners on first and second. Dansby Swanson then grounded into a force out at second, but Hoerner advanced to third. Miguel Amaya delivered the biggest blow of the inning, a two-run double to left that scored Hoerner and Swanson, putting Chicago ahead 3-1. Crow-Armstrong struck out to end the rally.

Chicago extended its lead in the bottom of the third. Suzuki walked to lead off. Busch was called out on strikes after the Twins successfully challenged a pitch result, but Bregman lined out to center. Happ walked to put runners on first and second, and Hoerner lined a single to right that scored Suzuki to make it 4-1. Ramírez then hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line, scoring Happ and sending Hoerner to third. Swanson flied out to left to end the inning with the Cubs leading 5-1.

Boyd settled in after that, retiring the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. The Twins managed a single from Ryan Jeffers in the sixth but Josh Bell grounded into a double play to erase the baserunner.

Minnesota got a run back in the top of the seventh. After Caratini grounded out and Lee struck out, Clemens hit his second home run of the game—his 18th of the season—to right-center field, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Kreidler struck out to end the inning.

The Cubs answered immediately in the bottom of the seventh. Busch walked to lead off, and Bregman struck out. Happ flied out to center, but Hoerner singled to right to move Busch to second. Ramírez then singled to right, driving in Busch to push the lead to 6-2. Swanson grounded out to second to end the frame.

Boyd was replaced by reliever Caleb Thielbar to start the eighth. Thielbar allowed a hit and an earned run in one inning of work, striking out two. Jacob Webb pitched the ninth, allowing three hits but no runs, striking out one to close out the game.

Hoerner was the offensive star for the Cubs, going 4-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Ramírez finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk. Amaya drove in two runs despite going 1-for-4. Busch had the solo home run and scored twice. Bregman, who went 0-for-4, struck out three times. Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

For the Twins, Clemens accounted for both runs with his two solo home runs. Jeffers, Luke Keaschall, Alan Roden, Josh Bell and Victor Caratini each had one hit. Brooks Lee went 1-for-4. Minnesota finished with eight hits but stranded seven runners and struck out nine times.

The game lasted 2 hours, 38 minutes.

With the win, the Cubs improved to 55-43 and have won two of three games in the series. The Twins dropped to 49-50. Chicago now leads the season series 1-0 after Minnesota’s 5-2 victory Friday night.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Twins then travel to Cleveland for a four-game set beginning Monday, while the Cubs return home to host Detroit for three games starting Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of 7-6 in favor of Chicago. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Cubs a 62.80 percent probability to win. Chicago was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 8 went over the over/under line of 9.