The Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks delivered an instant classic Friday, combining for 1 runs in a chaotic 8th inning before the Cubs emerged with a 13-1 victory at Wrigley Field. Eugenio Suárez’s 458-foot grand slam sparked a 10-run Diamondbacks rally, only for Chicago to counter with six runs in the bottom half, capped by Kyle Tucker’s go-ahead two-run homer.
Key moments:
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Suárez’s mammoth blast, his second-longest Statcast-tracked homer since, briefly gave Arizona life.
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Carson Kelly homered twice for Chicago, including a critical three-run shot during the Cubs’ decisive rally.
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Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a three-run homer in Arizona’s 10-run outburst before the bullpen collapsed.
The Diamondbacks (12-8) enter Saturday’s rematch with Zac Gallen facing Chicago’s Ben Brown – a pivotal matchup as both teams vie for early NL supremacy. Arizona’s Corbin Burnes delivered a quality start (6 IP, 2 ER) Friday but was overshadowed by the late-inning fireworks.
With seven combined home runs and multiple lead changes, this slugfest sets the stage for a crucial series conclusion. Can Arizona’s lineup maintain its recent surge against Chicago’s shaky bullpen? Saturday’s first pitch at:2 p.m. ET could prove decisive in this early-season playoff preview.
