The Chicago Cubs are on fire, and they showed no signs of cooling off on Sunday, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 to secure their fifth consecutive victory. Michael Busch was the star of the show, delivering a three-run triple and a sacrifice fly that powered the Cubs to yet another win at Wrigley Field.
This win was part of an incredible run for Chicago, who have now won 15 of their last 18 games. At 22-12, they are a season-best 10 games over .500. Even more impressive, the Cubs have won 11 straight home games for the first time since their 14-game streak in 2008. For a team that's been building momentum, this kind of consistency is a sign of something special brewing in the Windy City.
Moisés Ballesteros added a two-run homer in the third inning, giving the Cubs an early spark. Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (2-1) was solid on the mound, tossing six innings while allowing just two runs. His performance kept the Diamondbacks at bay and set the stage for Chicago's offense to shine.
The Cubs broke the game open in the fifth inning. Ballesteros led off with a walk, and after Alex Bregman's bouncer to third, Nolan Arenado's throw to second was too late to catch Ballesteros. Ian Happ then walked after using the ABS system to overturn a called third strike. That brought up Busch, who crushed a liner into the right-field corner for his first triple of the season, clearing the bases and giving Chicago a 6-2 lead.
For Arizona, it was another tough day. Gabriel Moreno and Adrian Del Castillo each hit two-run homers, but the Diamondbacks couldn't sustain any momentum. They had a golden opportunity in the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Ketel Marte struck out swinging against Phil Maton to end the threat. Merrill Kelly (1-3) took the loss, allowing six runs and eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings.
Carson Kelly contributed two hits and two RBIs for the Cubs, while Nico Hoerner went 2-for-5 in his return to the lineup after missing Saturday's game with neck tightness. The Cubs' depth and resilience are on full display as they continue to dominate the NL Central.
The Diamondbacks will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host the Pirates, with Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.03 ERA) on the mound. Meanwhile, the Cubs are set to open a four-game series against the Reds on Monday, with Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.06 ERA) taking the ball. If the Cubs keep playing like this, their hot streak could turn into something historic.