Chicago, IL – The Chicago Cubs delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, crushing the Seattle Mariners 19‑2 at Wrigley Field. The offensive explosion was sparked by back‑to‑back grand slams from Ian Happ and Pedro Ramirez, each driving in five runs.
Key moments
Ian Happ opened the scoring in the third inning with a two‑out, two‑strike grand slam after leadoff hitter Michael Conforto’s solo shot. Happ’s blast, his 22nd of the season, came off Seattle starter Bryce Miller, who had already issued three consecutive two‑out walks. The Cubs added another run in the same inning on a fielder’s choice by Alex Bregman.
Pedro Ramirez answered in the eighth, delivering a grand slam off Seattle’s backup catcher Jhonny Pereda. The swing added another five RBIs to the Cubs’ tally and helped cement the game’s one‑sided nature.
Supporting offense
Beyond the grand slams, the Cubs saw contributions from several other hitters. Michael Conforto’s leadoff homer in the third gave Chicago an early lead. Pete Crow‑Armstrong homered for his 33rd of the season, and Shota Imanaga, the Cubs’ starter, was pulled after three innings, with Aaron Civile providing four scoreless relief innings.
Seattle’s offense was limited to two runs, despite a leadoff home run by outfielder Randy Arozarena, who became the 11th player in MLB history with at least six seasons of 20+ homers and 20+ stolen bases. The Mariners’ starter, Bryce Miller, walked a career‑high seven batters, including a bases‑loaded walk in the fifth inning.
Implications for the standings
The win keeps the Cubs firmly in the NL wild‑card race, preserving a 4½‑game lead. Chicago improves to 75‑56, while Seattle falls to 62‑69, remaining three games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West and three games back for the final wild‑card spot.
Looking ahead, Seattle will open a three‑game series against the Philadelphia Phillies with Logan Gilbert slated to start. The Cubs will face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, with Kevin Gausman taking the mound for Chicago.
Injury update
Mariners utilityman Brendan Donovan was placed on the seven‑day concussion list after being struck in the head by a baseball in the batting cages the day before.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
