Ryan Waldschmidt hits game-winning 2-run HR with 2 outs in 9th to send D-backs past Cubs 5-4

PHOENIX (AP) — Pinch-hitter Ryan Waldschmidt hit a game-winning, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to stun the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Tuesday night.

The D-backs pulled one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL wild-card spot.

Trailing 4-3 in the ninth, Tim Tawa coaxed a one-out walk from Jacob Webb to start the decisive rally. Ildemaro Vargas flew out to right field for the second out before pinch-runner Jose Fernandez stole second base. Waldschmidt — a rookie — then launched a no-doubt homer over the left field fence to set off a raucous celebration.

It was Waldschmidt's second walk-off homer of the season.

Arizona trailed 4-0 in the eighth before mounting a two-out rally against reliever Daniel Palencia. Gabriel Moreno hit a check swing RBI double that hugged the first base line and stayed fair before Geraldo Perdomo's two-run single cut the deficit to 4-3. Webb relieved Palencia and coaxed a ground out from Max Kepler to end the threat.

Ian Happ hit a three-run homer in the fourth to push the Cubs ahead 3-0. Michael Busch's RBI single in the sixth made it 4-0. Busch and Seiya Suzuki both had two hits.

The D-backs' rally ruined a great outing for Clay Holmes, who breezed through the D-backs' lineup, giving up two singles and two walks while striking out five over seven scoreless innings. The right-hander has given up just one earned run over his past 19 innings, spanning three starts.

Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt (7-2) gave up four runs on six hits and two walks, striking out three. He didn't allow a hit over the first three innings, but gave up a single and a double in the fourth before Happ's three-run homer.

The D-backs send LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 2.61 ERA) to the mound to face Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (8-2, 4.15).

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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) pauses on the pitcher's mound after giving up a three-run home run to Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) celebrates his three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Cubs' Michael Busch (29) during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Clay Holmes (25) celebrates retiring the Arizona Diamondbacks with Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll makes a diving catch on a line drive hit by Chicago Cubs' Pedro Ramírez during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle slugger Cal Raleigh homered in his first at-bat against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night and tied a Mariners' record with homers in four consecutive at-bats.

Raleigh led off the second inning against Philadelphia's Aaron Nola with a 362-foot shot to right field for his 18th homer of the season.

The four-homer streak matched the Seattle record set by Mike Cameron on May 2, 2002.

The homer came in Raleigh’s first at-bat after the switch-hitting catcher hit three homers in a 9-2 win against the Phillies on Monday night. Raleigh walked in his next plate appearance in the fourth inning, and the streak ended in the sixth with a strikeout against Nola.

The Mariners beat the Phillies 4-1.

Raleigh had struggled all season after finishing as the runner-up for the AL MVP last year with 60 home runs. He entered the series against Philadelphia with a .159 batting average and 14 homers. On Monday, he was 3 for 3 with a walk between the first and second homers.

The Mariners' team record for homers in a two-game span is five, set by Edgar Martinez on May 17-18, 1999. The last Seattle player to hit four home runs over two consecutive games was Kenji Johjima on June 24-27, 2006.

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Fans vie for the solo home run hit by Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)