PHOENIX — By the tip of the longest sport of the season for the Cubs on Sunday, the one query was whether or not Ben Zobrist did extra for them earlier than the sport or on the finish in driving house the go-ahead runs within the 15th inning in a 6-5 victory.
Zobrist approached supervisor Joe Maddon earlier than the sport to counsel that hot-hitting David Bote stay within the lineup Sunday after hitting two house runs Saturday, regardless of an advance schedule that had Zobrist beginning and Bote on the bench.
Maddon accepted the “selfless” suggestion, and Zobrist wound up wanting like an oracle — to not point out a late-inning hero.
“Frankly, there was a bit of rigidity in my aggressive coronary heart, but it surely was the proper factor to do.’’ mentioned Zobrist, who received a fist bump from Maddon after making the suggestion.
Chicago Cubs’ Ben Zobrist watches the flight of the ball as he hits an RBI double in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks through the fifteenth inning of a baseball sport, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) ORG XMIT: AZRF219
Bote doubled in his first at-bat, and appeared sharp within the discipline at each third base and second because the Cubs prolonged their streak of sequence wins to 6 earlier than opening a two-game set Tuesday in Seattle.
The 37-year-old Zobrist got here off the bench defensively in additional innings and reached base all three journeys to the plate, together with a two-run double with one out within the 15th inning.
He then scored on Kris Bryant’s sacrifice fly to cap the rally began by pitcher Tyler Chatwood, who doubled with one out after recording the 4 outs that received the Cubs to the 15th with the rating tied 3-3.
Chatwood reported a sore groin whereas working the bases. He stayed in lengthy sufficient to jog house on Zobrist’s hit and might be re-evaluated earlier than the sport Tuesday.
Kyle Ryan gave up a pair of two-out runs within the backside of the 15th earlier than Allen Webster received the ultimate out on a drive to the wall in left that Zobrist caught to stop additional bases.
“It was nerve-racking for a bit of bit,’’ Zobrist mentioned. “I believed ‘Oh, no’ for only a second there. It was simply a type of days.’’
‘‘You can slice that any way you want, we won,’’ Maddon mentioned. ‘‘I liked the energy all day long.’’
Designated Schwarber
With the Cubs taking part in their second sequence of the season in an American League park beginning Tuesday, Maddon mentioned Kyle Schwarber might be his designated hitter in opposition to Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez on Tuesday.
Maddon hasn’t selected a DH in opposition to lefty Marco Gonzales in Wednesday’s finale. Zobrist was his DH in opposition to a left-hander when the Cubs performed at Texas of their different AL street sequence.
Schwarber, who has been in a stoop, has 4 hits and a stroll in his final seven plate appearances. He had 10 hits and 6 walks in his earlier 70.
Montgomery replace
In his third minor-league rehab begin, left-hander Mike Montgomery (lat pressure) allowed a pair of third-inning runs in a four-inning begin for Class AAA Iowa.
He struck out 5 and gave up two hits and two walks. The Cubs plan to guage Montgomery within the subsequent day or two to find out his subsequent step.
“We need to be certain that he’s wholesome,” Maddon mentioned.
The Cubs, who’ve just one left-hander of their bullpen, might stick with that configuration till a minimum of the May 10-12 sequence in opposition to the Brewers earlier than matchups create an even bigger want for an additional lefty.
This and that
Third-base coach Brian Butterfield had improved in a single day after one other bout with vertigo, however missed Sunday’s sport. He’s anticipated to journey with the group to Seattle and anticipates to return Tuesday. With Butterfield out, first-base coach Will Venable moved over to 3rd, and quality-assurance coach Chris Denorfia took over at first.
• Pitching matchups for the two-game sequence in Seattle: Cole Hamels (3-0, 3.16 ERA) vs. Hernandez (1-2, 3.91) on Tuesday evening, Jon Lester (1-1, 2.37) vs. Gonzales (5-0, 2.80) on Wednesday.