Nico Hoerner’s third single of the night came in walk-off fashion in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs overcame blowing a late lead to win 3-2 over the visiting Seattle Mariners on Monday.
Down 2-1 with one out in the ninth, Seattle’s Jarred Kelenic — who came on as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning — sent a drive over the right-field wall against Chicago reliever Michael Fulmer to tie the game.
The Mariners, who lost in 12 innings at Cleveland on Sunday, failed to score with the bases loaded against the Cubs’ Keegan Thompson (1-0) in the 10th.
In the Chicago half of the 10th, placement runner Nick Madrigal stole third base and Hoerner drove a pitch from Matt Brash (0-1) into right field for his first career walk-off.
Eric Hosmer added two hits with an RBI and Cody Bellinger had a run-scoring double for the Cubs, who are 4-1 since losing three straight.
Chicago’s Drew Smyly, who allowed six earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in his 2023 debut against Cincinnati on April 3, was much more efficient on Monday. He yielded just a fourth-inning run, two hits and one walk while striking out seven in five innings.
Meanwhile, Seattle ace Luis Castillo allowed his first two runs of the season in his third start, plus six hits — after yielding three hits in his first two — and two walks to go along with five strikeouts over six innings. Seattle, though, managed just six hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Smyly retired the first 10 batters he faced until Ty France’s bloop double in the fourth. After a Eugenio Suarez walk and Teoscar Hernandez single, France scored on AJ Pollock’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Seattle lead.
However, the Cubs became the first team to get to Castillo this season in the bottom of the fourth. Ian Happ opened the frame with a walk, then stole second and went to third on catcher Tom Murphy’s throwing error. Bellinger’s double just inside the first-base line tied the game, ending Castillo’s scoreless run at 14 2/3 innings. Hosmer’s single then put Chicago ahead 2-1.
–Field Level Media
