Báez, bullpen lead streaking Cubs over Padres 6-5
(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (AP) - Javier Báez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and four Cubs relievers combined for one-hit ball over the final four innings, lifting Chicago to a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday.
The game started out as a slugfest in sweltering conditions at Wrigley Field before the wind suddenly shifted in the seventh, the temperature dropped and the pitchers took command.
Anthony Rizzo had two hits and drove in two runs and Robel Garcia added an RBI triple as NL Central-leading Chicago improved to 7-1 since the All-Star break.
Manny Machado hit a two-run shot for his 200th career homer and Fernando Tatis Jr. and Hunter Renfroe also connected for San Diego.
Jose Quintana (8-7) won his fourth straight start despite allowing five runs on eight hits and three homers in five innings.
Brandon Kintzler, Steve Cishek and Pedro Strop each worked a scoreless inning. Closer Craig Kimbrel worked around two walks in the ninth — getting Machado to line out to third to end it — for his sixth save.
San Diego starter Joey Lucchesi (7-5) allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings as his career-high streak of 12 straight outings of at least five innings came to an end.
Chicago grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first. Rizzo drove in the first run with an RBI groundout to plate Báez and Garcia followed with a triple to drive in Kris Bryant.
Tatis led off the third with a solo shot. Machado's homer later in the inning put the Padres ahead 3-2.
After Rizzo tied it with a run-scoring single in the bottom half, Tatis had a sacrifice fly in the fourth to put the Padres back on top 4-3.
Báez hit his 24th homer in the fourth for a 6-4 lead.
Renfroe homered in the fifth.
ROSTER MOVES
The Padres recalled INF Luis Urías from Triple-A El Paso and optioned RHP Gerardo Reyes to El Paso before the game. The 22-year-old Urías started at second and went 1 for 4. He was hitting .315 with 19 homers at El Paso and went 2 for 24 in 11 games with San Diego earlier this season.
A pair of pitching prospects — lefty Adrian Morejon and righty Michel Baez — also joined the team Saturday and will be activated on Sunday. Both had been with Double-A Amarillo and will be used out of the bullpen.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: LHP Cole Hamels (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen session on Saturday for the first time since going on the IL June 29 . C Willson Contreras (right foot strain) took batting practice on the field before the game.
UP NEXT
Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-7, 3.46 ERA) faces Padres RHP Cal Quantrill (2-2, 4.21) Sunday in the finale of the three-game series. Hendricks is 5-1 with a 3.04 ERA against San Diego. Quantrill is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA in eight starts this season.