PHOENIX (AP) — Willson Contreras capped Chicago's three-run ninth inning with a two-run homer, sending the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Chicago was down 2-1 before it rallied with two outs in the ninth. Rafael Ortega doubled and scored on Robinson Chirinos' pinch-hit single off Joakim Soria (1-4). Contreras then hit a drive to left for his 14th homer.
Rex Brothers (3-2) got three outs for the win, and All-Star Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 21st save. It was career save No. 369 for Kimbrel, snapping a tie with Jonathan Papelbon for ninth on baseball's all-time list.
Contreras finished with three hits. It was the Cubs' first win when trailing entering the ninth inning since Sept. 12, 2020, at Milwaukee.
Arizona wasted a strong performance by Zac Gallen, who threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his return from the injured list. Gallen had been sidelined by a strained hamstring.
Nick Ahmed and Josh Rojas each drove in a run for the last-place Diamondbacks, who have dropped five of six.
The Diamondbacks jumped in front on Ahmed's run-scoring groundout in the second, and Rojas made it 2-0 when he singled in Ahmed in the fifth.
Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay allowed five hits, struck out two and walked two in five innings.
The Cubs rallied in the sixth. Contreras singled with one out, advanced on a walk by Anthony Rizzo and scored on Javier Báez's double off the wall in center.
Chicago had a chance for more, but Kris Bryant to hit a ground ball to third baseman Eduardo Escobar, who threw Rizzo out at home. Gallen then was replaced by left-hander Joe Mantiply, who retired Jason Heyward on a line drive to center.
UP NEXT
RHP Zach Davies (5-6, 4.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs against Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-7, 4.46) in the finale of the three-game series.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.
