Padres use 6-run sixth inning to beat Cubs

[May 07, 2024]  Jurickson Profar delivered a two-run single and Luis Campusano added a three-run double to power an explosive sixth inning that propelled the visiting San Diego Padres past the Chicago Cubs, 6-3, on Monday.
 
Campusano, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Donovan Solano each had two hits for San Diego. Luis Arraez went 0-for-4 with a walk after going 5-for-11 in his first two games with the Padres since being traded from Miami. 

May 6, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego starter Yu Darvish (2-1) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five over five shutout innings. Four Padres relievers navigated through the next 2 1/3 innings before Robert Suarez took over to record the final five outs and lock up his 11th save in as many chances this season.

Christopher Morel and Yan Gomes each hit a home run for the Cubs, who left 10 runners on base. Mike Tauchman went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, while Nick Madrigal collected two singles.

Justin Steele pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his first start for Chicago since he strained his left hamstring while fielding a bunt against the Rangers on March 28. The left-hander gave up three hits on Monday, striking out two and walking one.

After managing four baserunners over the first five innings, the Padres batted around in a six-run sixth that broke a scoreless tie.

San Diego banged out five straight singles to begin the frame. Profar singled home Fernando Tatis Jr. and Cronenworth against Richard Lovelady (0-1) to make it 2-0 before Solano added a single two batters later to score Profar. Ha-Seong Kim walked to load the bases for Campusano, who sliced a bases-clearing double into the right field corner to push the Padres' advantage to 6-0.

Morel clubbed a two-run home run -- his eighth homer of the season -- for the Cubs in the bottom of the sixth. Gomes drilled his second homer of the season -- a solo shot -- in the seventh inning to pull Chicago within 6-3. The Cubs put two more runners on in the seventh for Morel, who grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

Chicago squandered an even better chance to rally in the eighth inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out against Jeremiah Estrada before Suarez entered to strike out Gomes and get Nico Hoerner to pop out to end the threat.

Suarez worked a perfect ninth inning, striking out two.

--Field Level Media

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