Happ homers twice as the Cubs hold off Raleigh and the Mariners for a 10-7 win

CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.

Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.

Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) got five outs for the win for the NL Central leaders.

Solano and Raley each had three hits and two RBIs for Seattle, which won 9-4 in the series opener on Friday.

Happ drove Emerson Hancock's first pitch of the game over the wall in left-center for his 10th homer. Tucker went deep on Hancock's third pitch for his first homer since June 9 and No. 14 on the year.

Happ became the first player to hit a leadoff homer for the Cubs in consecutive games since Anthony Rizzo in June 2017.

Happ added a three-run shot in the second, lifting Chicago to a 6-1 lead. He has four homers in his last three games.

Busch hit a three-run homer in the third, and Crow-Armstrong connected for a solo shot in the fifth against Zach Pop. It was Crow-Armstrong's team-high 21st homer.

Hancock (3-3) was tagged for nine runs in four innings.

The Mariners cut it to 9-6 in the fifth, scoring three unearned runs following Vidal Bruján’s throwing error on Randy Arozarena’s grounder.

Home plate umpire Chad Whitson left after five innings. The game continued with Dexter Kelley behind the plate.

Seattle reliever Trent Thornton wobbled on the mound with one out in the eighth. He was helped off by training staff.

Keller entered two runners on and none out in the sixth, then struck out the side.

Happ has two multihomer games this season and 17 for his career.

Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert (1-2, 2.55 ERA) faces Cubs right-hander Colin Rea (4-2, 3.84 ERA) on Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena (56) gets caught in a rundown between first and second bases and is ultimately tagged out by Chicago Cubs' Vidal Bruján , right, during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Seattle Mariners pitcher Trent Thornton (46) is helped off the field after suffering from heat exhaustion during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) hits a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.

“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”

During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.

He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.

“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”

While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”

Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.

Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.

“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”

He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)