Cubs topple Diamondbacks in 10 innings, avert sweep

[July 22, 2024]  Nico Hoerner scored the tying run in the ninth and drove in the winning run in the 10th to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 win against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, avoiding a sweep of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
 
Dansby Swanson was intentionally walked to start the 10th, which put runners on first and second. Miguel Amaya then laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first to load the bases with no outs. 

Jul 21, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Mantiply (3-2) got Pete Crow-Armstrong to fly out to shallow left for the first out. Humberto Castellanos then came in to face Hoerner and walked him on five pitches to force in the winning run.

Hector Neris (8-2) pitched a scoreless 10th for the Cubs.

Justin Martinez came out of the bullpen for Arizona for the third straight day in his first save opportunity of the season and gave up a leadoff double to Hoerner to start the ninth.

Hoerner moved to third on a grounder to short by Michael Busch and scored on a single up the middle by Seiya Suzuki to tie it 1-1.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga carried a no-hitter into the sixth before departing after seven innings. The All-Star left-hander allowed one run and two hits, struck out a career-high 10 and walked one.

In his previous start on July 10, Imanaga tossed six scoreless innings in a 4-0 win against the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt allowed one hit over seven shutout innings, striking out seven and walking one.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who was coming off six shutout innings in a 1-0 win against the Atlanta Braves on July 11, has a 0.77 ERA over his past four starts covering 23 1/3 innings.

Eugenio Suarez homered to break a scoreless tie in the seventh inning for the Diamondbacks, who had won six of seven.

Suarez came up with one out in the seventh and lifted a 2-1 fastball over the fence in left for a 1-0 lead.

--Field Level Media

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