CHICAGO, IL — The Detroit Tigers put a tumultuous series behind them with a dominant finish, blanking the Chicago Cubs 7-0 in the rubber match at Wrigley Field.

One day after Detroit squandered an 8-3 lead in a stunning 13-9 loss, Framber Valdez made sure there would be no repeat.

The Tigers gave Valdez a two-run cushion before he even took the mound. Dillon Dingler and Riley Greene each drove in a run in the top of the first to put Detroit ahead 2-0.

The Cubs had their best opportunity to answer in the third when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Valdez escaped without allowing a run, getting Michael Busch to line out before Pete Crow-Armstrong hit into an inning-ending double play.

Detroit broke the game open in the fifth. Jahmai Jones and Kerry Carpenter each launched two-run home runs, stretching the Tigers’ advantage to 6-0 and putting the previous day’s collapse firmly in the rearview mirror.

Valdez handled the rest, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and striking out eight. The left-hander earned his fifth victory of the season.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (8-3) took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits over 4⅓ innings.

AS IT STANDS…

The Tigers improved to 35-27 and moved within a half-game of the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.

The Cubs fell to 33-29 but remained five games out of first place in the NL Central after both the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers also lost.