The Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks engaged in an offensive explosion Friday night, combining for an astonishing 21 runs in just the seventh and eighth innings alone. The game, ultimately won by the Cubs 13-11, will be remembered as one for the ages, setting a new mark in MLB history.
Carson Kelly powered the Cubs’ offense with two home runs, while Kyle Tucker added a crucial go-ahead two-run blast in the dramatic eighth inning. Ian Happ contributed a grand slam, and Seiya Suzuki also went deep, adding to the Cubs’ impressive offensive display. The Cubs’ 11-run outburst in the final two innings was a stunning response to the Diamondbacks’ own 10-run surge.
The Diamondbacks, however, weren’t without their own fireworks. Eugenio Suárez launched a grand slam of his own in the eighth, briefly giving Arizona the lead. Randal Grichuk’s two-run double and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s three-run homer extended the Diamondbacks’ lead to 11-7, setting the stage for an unforgettable conclusion.
But the Cubs, fueled by a combination of timely hitting and Diamondbacks’ pitching woes, answered with a rally for the ages. Bryce Jarvis’ wild pitch and walk set the stage for Kelly’s three-run homer, igniting the Cubs’ comeback. Back-to-back home runs by Tucker and Suzuki sealed the deal, giving the Cubs a 13-11 lead that they would hold onto.
The game marked the first nine-inning contest in MLB history where both teams scored 10 or more runs from the seventh inning onwards. Cubs manager Craig Counsell expressed his amazement, highlighting the team’s resilience in overcoming a 10-run deficit in a single inning. The Diamondbacks, despite their impressive offensive showing, ultimately found themselves on the losing side of this record-breaking game, becoming only the third team in the last 50 seasons to lose after scoring 10 runs in a single inning.
Colin Rea had a strong outing for the Cubs, pitching 4⅔ innings and allowing just one run. For the Diamondbacks, Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, pitched well, but ultimately couldn’t contain the Cubs’ explosive offense. Ryan Pressly secured the final three outs for the Cubs, ensuring a memorable victory to kick off their weekend series.
