Nico Hoerner doubled and scored the tying run in the ninth inning, then drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Chicago had only one hit entering the ninth before Hoerner ignited the late rally, helping the Cubs avoid being swept.
“I don’t like to change my approach too much in late-game situations, but you know that if you get on base, we have guys behind you who have been having our best at-bats,” Hoerner commented. “I trust them a lot, especially guys like (Michael) Busch and Seiya (Suzuki), and I felt they had a great chance to win the game.”
Cubs All-Star pitcher Shota Imanaga recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts and allowed just two hits over seven innings, giving up a home run to Eugenio Suárez.
“He remains calm and steady, always delivering a solid performance,” Suzuki said of Imanaga through an interpreter. “There were games where we struggled to score, but he pitched exceptionally well today.”
Chicago’s victory was sealed with Brandon Pfaadt’s strong pitching performance. The Arizona ace struck out seven and allowed only one hit.
Hoerner started the bottom of the ninth with a double down the first-base line and later scored on Suzuki’s single with one out.
Héctor Neris (8-2) earned the win for Chicago with a scoreless 10th inning, while Joe Mantiply (3-2) took the loss for Arizona.
Imanaga began the game by striking out all three batters in the first inning and did not give up a hit until Randal Grichuk singled with two outs in the sixth inning. In the fifth inning, Imanaga notched his eighth strikeout with a deceptive low splitter that fooled Arizona’s Jose Herrera, whose bat flew down the third-base line after a swing.
