Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/21/24): Cubs 2, D-Backs 1 F/10 – Late Rally Avoids Sweep

For most of the game Sunday, it appeared the Cubs were going to waste an outstanding start by Shōta Imanaga by getting shut out for the second consecutive day. Then they managed a dramatic rally to tie the score in the bottom of the 9th before taking home a thrilling victory in extra innings.

Imanaga and Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt were both very sharp, piling up strikeouts and keeping the game scoreless through six frames. Longtime Cubs nemesis Eugenio Suárez broke the tie with a very long solo home run to left field in the top of the 7th.

Arizona tapped hard-throwing Justin Martinez to try and save the one-run lead. Nico Hoerner swung at the first pitch Martinez threw and slashed a double down the right field line. After Hoerner advanced to third on a ground out, Seiya Suzuki hit an RBI single through the middle of a drawn-in infield to even the score.

The D-backs retired the next two batters to force extra innings, but Héctor Neris kept them off the board in the top of the 10th. The North Siders used an intentional walk and a perfectly placed bunt single by Miguel Amaya to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the frame against left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply. Humberto Castellanos took over to face Hoerner with one out and the Cubs second baseman coaxed a walk-off walk to give the home team much-needed 2-1 win. (Box score)

Key Moment

The Cubs did not have many chances with runners in scoring position Sunday, but Suzuki made the most of the one opportunity he got with the game-saving RBI single.

Why the Cubs Won

Terrific all-around work from the pitching staff, especially Imanaga, gave the offense just enough room to scrape out a victory.

Stats That Matter

• This might have been Imanaga’s best start of the season, his stuff was very crisp and he got a lot of whiffs: 7 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 10 K, and 1 BB.
• Hoerner extended his hitting streak to 13 games and was the only Cub to reach base twice Sunday.
• Mark Leiter Jr. and Porter Hodge each threw a scoreless inning of relief to keep it a one-run game.

Bottom Line

It would have been particularly frustrating if the Cubs had wasted such a good starting pitching effort, so it’s nice that they avoided that. The positive outcome does not change the fact the hitters continue to struggle mightily. If they want to make things at all interesting over the next couple of weeks, they are going to have to start scoring more runs. Scoring just four times in three games is just not going to cut it.

On Deck

The Cubs welcome the first-place Brewers to Wrigley for three starting Monday at 7:05pm CT. Javier Assad gets the nod against Tobias Myers in a matchup broadcast on Marquee and 670 The Score.