MLB Recaps: Cubs rally in ninth to beat Marlins


Aug 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs pinch hitter Matt Szczur (right) scores the game winning run off a wild pitch to left fielder Willson Contreras (left) against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Cubs won 5-4. Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs pinch hitter Matt Szczur (right) scores the game winning run off a wild pitch to left fielder Willson Contreras (left) against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Cubs won 5-4. Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO — Matt Szczur scored on a wild pitch to cap a three-run ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

Chicago trailed 4-2 entering the ninth but A.J. Ramos gave up a leadoff double to Miguel Montero, a single to Javier Baez and walked Szczur on five pitches to load the bases.

Dexter Fowler hit a sacrifice fly to right-center to score Montero. Ben Zobrist walked to bring home Baez and Ramos’ two-out wild pitch sailed past Miami catcher Jeff Mathis and allowed Szczur to score the game-winner.

Ramos (1-1) took the loss while reliever Justin Grimm (1-0), who was brought up from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, worked the ninth for the victory.

The Marlins appeared on track for a victory after Mathis clubbed a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh while starter Tom Koehler allowed just one run on five hits.

But Koehler, who worked an effective six innings in 88-degree heat, was left with a no-decision. Cubs starter John Lackey, who pitched seven innings, settled for his seventh no-decison of the season. He allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight while taking a loss in three of his last four games.

Nationals 8, Diamondbacks 3

PHOENIX — Daniel Murphy and Trea Turner homered and Washington right-hander Max Scherzer won his 12th game and contributed two RBIs.

Murphy broke a 1-1 tie with a bases-empty homer in the sixth inning, and Scherzer capped the three-run rally with a two-run single for a 4-1 lead.

Scherzer (12-6) pitched through bases-empty homers by Jake Lamb in the sixth inning and Yasmany Tomas in the seventh inning for his seventh consecutive quality start. He is 4-1 with a 1.46 ERA in seven starts since June 29.

The Nationals put the game away with a four-run rally with two outs in the ninth inning.

Washington has won three straight and six of its last nine. The Nationals are 33-24 on the road and lead the majors in road victories. Arizona has lost four in a row and 17 of 22. They are 17-38 at home.

Padres 12, Brewers 3

SAN DIEGO — Yangervis Solarte and rookie Jabari Blash homered to lead Sn Diego’s 14-hit attack in the rubber match of a three-game series at Petco Park.

Padres starter Edwin Jackson retired the first 11 Brewers he faced and took a shutout into the eighth inning en route to his second win in four starts as a member of the Padres. Jackson also had an RBI double, stole the first base of his career and scored a run.

The Padres had seven extra-base hits and four steals in addition to the two homers while building an 11-0 lead before the Brewers scored three in an eighth inning, capped by a two-run Ryan Braun homer to center.

Solarte was 3-for-4 with a double in addition to his 11th homer for two RBIs and three runs scored. Blash’s homer was the first of his major-league career.