Ian Happ homers as the Chicago Cubs knock off the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4
[September 13, 2025]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ homered and Moisés Ballesteros
hit a tiebreaking triple, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the slumping
Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 on Friday.
Happ finished with three hits and two RBIs as Chicago posted its third
consecutive victory. Nico Hoerner had two hits and scored twice for the
NL wild-card leaders. |
Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner (2) scores on a triple by designated hitter
Moisés Ballesteros during the third inning of a baseball game against
the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin
Hooley) |
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Matthew Boyd (13-8) pitched five innings and
allowed four runs in his first win since Aug. 19. The All-Star
left-hander is 2-4 with a 5.31 ERA in his last seven starts.
Christopher Morel hit a three-run homer for Tampa Bay in his
first game against his former team. Morel was acquired in a July
2024 trade with the Cubs.
The Rays lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Happ capped Chicago's three-run second with a tying single off
Shane Baz (9-12), and the Cubs added two more in the third.
Hoerner walked and scored on Ballesteros' first career triple
into the corner in right. Ballesteros scampered home when Matt
Shaw bounced into a fielder's choice.
Tampa Bay got one back on Nick Fortes' RBI single in the fourth,
but that was the last hit of the game for the Rays.
After Boyd departed, Porter Hodge, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller
and Andrew Kittredge each worked a perfect inning for the Cubs.
Kittredge picked up his fourth save in five chances.
Key moment
Happ hit a leadoff drive to right off Edwin Uceta in the fourth,
giving the Cubs a 6-4 lead. It was Happ's 21st homer of the
season.
Key stat
Boyd picked Everson Pereira off first for the second out of the
fourth. It was Boyd's major league-best 11th pickoff of the
season.
Up next
Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.64 ERA) starts for Tampa Bay on
Saturday, and fellow right-hander Colin Rea (10-6, 4.20 ERA)
pitches for Chicago.
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