Sox pitchers surrendered five solo home runs -- including back-to-back shots off Bello and reliever Chris Murphy -- in a 6-0 shutout.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora explained why he did not pinch hit for Connor Wong (.144 batting average) in the seventh inning.

All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 26th homer, one of five solo shots for the Cubs to back seven sharp innings by Shota Imanaga, and Chicago beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0.

Somehow, in a weird North Side/South Side ''Summer of Chi'' way, there’s hope in both while only hope for one.

CHICAGO — Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony will hit back-to-back in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots of the Red Sox lineup Friday. Boston (53-45) opens the second half here at Wrigley Field at 2:20 p.m. eastern. Righty Lucas Giolito (6-1, 3.36 ERA) will start for the Sox opposite Chicago righty Colin Rea (7-3, 3.91 ERA).

The Chicago Cubs could turn to the struggling Minnesota Twins to land a controllable ace to head their struggling pitching rotation.