Wada throws 6 1-3 hitless innings as Cubs beat O's

Tsuyoshi Wada allowed Steve Pearce's leadoff homer in the seventh inning for Baltimore's only hit, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Orioles 2-1 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Wada (4-1) got a popout after the homer that landed on Waveland Avenue and departed to a standing

ovation from the crowd of 32,774. He struck out a career-high eight and walked one in 6 1-3 innings in his eighth career start. He retired 16 straight after Adam Jones drew a two-out walk in the first.

Arismendy Alcantara homered run for the Cubs, who recorded their first series sweep since taking three straight at Boston from June 30 to July 2.

Hector Rondon struck out one in the ninth for his 21st save in 25 opportunities.

The AL East-leading Orioles finished their road trip 4-5 for their first losing road trip this season.

Alcantara hit a one-out solo homer, his fourth of the season, to give the Cubs the lead in the fifth. The Cubs extended their advantage to 2-0 in the sixth on Anthony Rizzo's RBI double after Chris Coghlan doubled.

Wada struck out the side in the fourth and sixth innings. Of his 92 pitches, 59 were for strikes.

Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena caught a hard-hit short hopper by J.J. Hardy to lead off the third, helping preserve Wada's no-hit bid.

Miguel Gonzalez (6-7) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings after he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Ubaldo Jimenez (4-9, 4.74 ERA) in the Orioles rotation.

Wada, a former Orioles minor leaguer, made his first career start against his former team. He recorded the game's first hit - and his first major league hit - on a two-out infield single in the third.

Wada threw five scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in his previous start before heavy rain ended his outing.

The Cubs have won six of eight.