Seiya Suzuki Goes 2-for-4 with a Double; Leads Cubs Past Mariners
10:14 JST, April 15, 2024
Michael Busch homered for a fourth consecutive game and Javier Assad pitched 5 2/3 solid innings as the Chicago Cubs defeated the host Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Sunday afternoon.
Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-4 with a double as Chicago took two of three games in the interleague series.
Jorge Polanco slugged a two-run homer for the Mariners.
Assad (2-0), a right-hander, gave up two runs on four hits, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay struck out the first two batters in the ninth before Cal Raleigh grounded a single into right field. Alzolay picked off pinch-runner Julio Rodriguez to end the game. It was Alzolay’s third save of the season.
Mariners ace Luis Castillo (0-4) put together his first quality start of the season, but it wasn’t quite enough. The right-hander went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with no walks and nine strikeouts.
The Cubs opened the scoring in the first inning as Suzuki grounded a one-out double to left field and scored on Castillo’s throwing error on Cody Bellinger’s infield single.
It remained 1-0 until the fourth when Dansby Swanson led off the inning by grounding a double to left and Busch followed with a two-run shot to right-center on a 2-2 changeup from Castillo. It was Busch’s team-leading fifth homer of the season.
Assad opened with five scoreless innings before running into trouble in the sixth. J.P. Crawford lined a one-out single to center and, an out later, Polanco hit a 1-0 cutter over the wall in right-center, ending Assad’s afternoon.
The Mariners threatened in the seventh as reliever Yency Almonte hit Dylan Moore with a pitch and walked Mitch Garver. Mark Leiter Jr. needed just two pitches to escape the jam, getting Raleigh to fly out to center and Luke Raley to ground into a double play.
Cubs reliever Hector Neris walked three of the first four batters he faced in the eighth before Ty France grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Mariners left fielder Dominic Canzone left the game holding his left shoulder in the top of the second inning after crashing into the wall while catching a drive by Chicago’s Mike Tauchman. The Mariners later announced Canzone suffered a left AC joint sprain.
"Sports" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Orioles Sign Veteran RHP Tomoyuki Sugano to a 1-Year Contract after His MVP Season in Japan
-
Olympic Champ Kitaguchi Wins Top Prize at Japan Sports Awards
-
Norris Nabs Nippon Series; Kanaya Claims Money Crown
-
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Watches from a Private Viewing Section; Rui Hachimura Scores 23 Points, Lakers Roll past Trail Blazers 107-98 to End 3-game Skid
-
Japan’s Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team Wins Japan Para-Sports Award; Award Presented to Athletes That Achieve Outstanding Results
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Core Inflation in Tokyo Accelerates in November
- China to Test Mine for Rare Metals Off Japan Island; Japan Lagging in Technologies Needed for Extraction
- Record 320 School Staff Punished for Sex Offenses in Japan
- Miho Nakayama, Japanese Actress and Singer, Found Dead at Her Tokyo Residence; She was 54 (UPDATE 1)
- Immerse Yourself in Snoopy’s World Ahead of Comic Strip’s 75th Anniversary Next Year; Renovated, Refreshed Museum Features Original, Reproduced Comic Strips, Vintage Merchandise