Kyle Tucker slapped a two-run, walk-off single to center field and the host Houston Astros capped a stunning six-run rally with a four-run ninth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 on Wednesday.
Houston completed its three-game sweep of the Cubs by rallying against reliever Keegan Thompson, first with a Yainer Diaz single to lead off the ninth. Jake Meyers followed with a two-run homer that cut the deficit to 6-5, and when pinch hitter Mauricio Dubon followed with a walk, Brandon Hughes (0-2) entered in relief of Thompson.
The Astros kept the rally going, however, with a Jeremy Pena double and an intentional walk to Alex Bregman that loaded the bases. Two batters later, Tucker plated Pena and Bregman for the win.
Trailing 6-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Astros scratched across a pair of runs off Cubs reliever Mark Leiter Jr. Pena tripled to right-center field leading off the frame and scored when Bregman followed with a double. Bregman scored three batters later when Jose Abreu delivered a single.
Seiya Suzuki finished 3-for-3 with two walks and three RBIs for the Cubs. His solo homer in the first inning capped a three-run frame off Astros rookie right-hander J.P. France. Suzuki added a two-run blast off France in the third, extending the Cubs’ lead to 5-1.
Dansby Swanson opened the scoring in the first with his RBI triple to right center, plating Christopher Morel, who worked a leadoff walk.
The Cubs pounded France throughout his abbreviated stint, tallying six runs on nine hits and two walks. Seven hits went for extra-bases, with Morel adding his fifth home run with one out in the fourth. France departed three batters later after Ian Happ doubled and Suzuki walked.
Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly entered with a streak of seven consecutive starts allowing two runs or fewer. He retired 12 consecutive batters during one stretch, a run stalled by a two-out error on third baseman Patrick Wisdom that allowed Meyers to reach in the bottom of the fifth.
The Astros struck for a pair of hits against Smyly in the first, including a solo home run from Bregman that cut the deficit to 3-1. Smyly did not allow another baserunner to reach scoring position until the sixth, when Tucker doubled with two outs and Bregman on first base.
Happ played the carrom off the scoreboard in left perfectly and erased Bregman at home for the final out of the frame.
Smyly allowed one run on four hits and had eight strikeouts in six innings.
–Field Level Media
