Cubs take advantage of errors to beat Padres

[July 20, 2019]  Addison Russell scored from second base on San Diego's second error of the eighth inning Friday afternoon to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-5 win over the visiting Padres in oppressive heat at Wrigley Field.

With the bases loaded and one out, Padres reliever Craig Stammen induced David Bote to hit a grounder to Manny Machado. The third baseman got a force on Anthony Rizzo -- at the plate. But catcher Francisco Mejia's attempted double-play relay throw to first got away from first baseman Eric Hosmer, allowing Russell to score and break the 5-5 tie. Hosmer was charged with the error.

But the more costly error in the inning came with one out and Rizzo on first. Russell hit a potential, inning-ending double play grounder to shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. But the rookie shortstop threw the ball wide of second for his sixth error in the last seven games.

Pedro Strop (2-3) was credited with the win. Craig Kimbrel, who struck out the side around a walk in the ninth, earned his fifth save since joining the Cubs. Stammen (6-5) suffered the loss as the Padres fell to 1-6 since the All-Star break. The Cubs have won three straight and are 6-1 since the break.

The Padres built an early 3-0 lead against left-hander Jon Lester. But it took only one swing from Rizzo -- for a grand slam -- to put the Cubs on top in the bottom of the third on the 90-degree day.

Hunter Renfroe gave the Padres a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly following back-to-back singles by Manuel Margot and Machado. Two innings later, Machado hit a two-run homer off Cubs starter Lester following a leadoff single by Margot.

Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) delivers the ball in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Rizzo's grand slam gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third. The rally started with a line drive by Albert Almora Jr. that struck Padres starting pitcher Eric Lauer in the back. Javier Baez followed with an infield single to the left side and Lauer walked Kris Bryant to load the bases. Rizzo then hit an opposite-field drive into the left-field grandstand.

The Padres tied the score in the fifth. Franmil Reyes opened the inning with a single, moved to second on a ground out, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Mejia's double off the left-field wall.

The teams then exchanged homers. Baez put the Cubs ahead 5-4 with a fifth-inning homer off Lauer into the right field stands. Josh Naylor led off the eighth with the first pinch-hit homer of his career on the first pitch thrown by Strop.

Lauer, who made his first appearance since returning from bereavement leave following the death of his father, gave up five runs on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Lester gave up four runs on a career high-equaling 12 hits and no walks with six strikeouts in six innings.

--Field Level Media

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