Chicago Cubs vs Seattle Mariners — Recap

📰Game Recap

Randy Arozarena blasted a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The decisive shot completed a late rally for Seattle, which had trailed by two runs entering the final frame.

Arozarena jump-started the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning, giving the Mariners an early lead. Chicago's offense came alive in the middle innings, first tying the game in the fifth with an Alcántara sacrifice fly. Seattle quickly regained the advantage on a Canzone fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth. The Cubs then mounted their strongest offensive surge in the sixth, pushing ahead with three runs. Back-to-back home runs from Bregman and Busch put Chicago in front, and Taylor's ground-rule double further extended their lead to 4-2.

The Mariners, however, refused to concede the game. After being held scoreless for three straight innings, Seattle's bats reignited in the ninth. Rivas singled home We. Wilson to cut the deficit to one run, setting the stage for Arozarena. His second home run of the game, a 404-foot shot to center field, clinched the win and negated the Cubs' earlier three-run sixth inning, which had been the largest scoring frame of the contest. David Peterson's strong outing for Chicago, pitching six innings with eight strikeouts and two earned runs allowed, ultimately proved insufficient to secure a victory.

Seattle's persistent late-game hitting, spearheaded by Arozarena's dominant performance at the plate, allowed them to overcome a resilient Cubs effort. The win for Seattle affirmed the pregame market's lean, which had favored the Mariners. Seattle finished the game with a 62-68 record, while Chicago fell to 74-56.