Seiya Suzuki hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Ian Happ started the 10th inning on second base as the automatic runner. Chad Green (3-3) walked Michael Busch, and then Suzuki hit a 2-2 pitch into left field.
Happ scored easily, giving Chicago a crucial win after they had lost a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning. The Cubs had lost their previous three games in a sweep against Cleveland.
Happ, Cody Bellinger, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Miguel Amaya all hit home runs for Chicago, and Tyson Miller (4-1) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win.
Before his game-winning hit, Suzuki had not gotten a hit in his four previous at-bats. The Japanese outfielder said he tried to use his frustration in his last at-bat.
“Today, I was mad at myself, so I kind of channeled that,” Suzuki said through an interpreter.
“I’m glad the results were good, but moving forward, I’ll try not to be mad at myself. I was frustrated in past at-bats, but for the last at-bat, I was able to stay calm.”
Despite the close call, Cubs manager Craig Counsell defended reliever Héctor Neris, who had given up Chicago’s three-run lead in the ninth inning. Counsell emphasized that getting the win was the most important thing.
“No one likes to give up runs,” Counsell said. “Héctor did today. He gave up the lead, but he kept it there and we got the job done. And that’s a win, that’s the big thing. It’d be great to pick how every win (is) and make them beautiful, but a win’s a win.”
Toronto, in last place, had won three games in a row and five of their last seven. They had just come off a three-game sweep against the Angels.
The Blue Jays were trailing 5-2 when they loaded the bases against Neris with one out in the ninth inning. Will Wagner scored on a balk, then Leo Jiménez struck out swinging. George Springer followed with a tying triple off the wall in left field.
Daulton Varsho then struck out swinging, ending the inning.
