Bellinger hits a 3-run homer in the 7th, Neris struggles again in the 9th before Cubs beat Rays 4-3 originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Cody Bellinger hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning, and the Chicago puppies held the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night.
Cubs closer Héctor Neris allowed José Caballero’s solo home run in the ninth before making his 10th save in 13 chances. The right-hander allowed a single to Ben Rortvedt and walked Taylor Walls with one out before getting a fielder’s choice grounder from Yandy Díaz and a flyball from Brandon Lowe.
Neris scored a season-high four runs in the ninth in Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Rays, including Lowe’s game-ending home run.
Seiya Suzuki also bet on the Cubs, who are 6-13 since May 22.
Tyson Miller (1-0) got the win by striking out two in 1 1/3 perfect innings. Since being acquired in a trade with Seattle on May 14, the right-hander has given up one earned run in 10 1/3 innings.
Tampa Bay also got a home run from Jose Siri. The Rays lost 14 of 21.
Garrett Cleavinger (4-1) relieved Aaron Civale with one inning and two outs in the seventh. After hitting pinch-hitter Patrick Wisdom, the left-hander allowed Bellinger’s ninth home run.
Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead on Siri’s solo homer off Javier Assad in the fourth. Siri was 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts in his previous three games before notching a double in the second inning.
Suzuki tied it at 1 with his eighth home run during the fourth.
Civale, on his 29th birthday, had his winless streak reach 11. He allowed one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Assad gave up two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: INF Nico Hoerner (small fracture in right hand) returned to the starting lineup and went 1 for 4 with two steals.
Rays: LF Randy Arozarena (right hamstring tightness) pinch-hit for the second straight game. It is expected to start on Thursday. … LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery) gave up one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings for Triple-A Durham in his second start since being shut down May 25 due to back tightness.
NEXT
Cubs LHP Justin Steele (0-3, 4.06 ERA) and Rays RHP Taj Bradley (1-4, 5.17 ERA) are Thursday night’s starters.
