CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Stowers homered and the Miami Marlins prevented the Chicago Cubs from clinching a playoff berth for the second straight night with a 3-2 victory Wednesday.
Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Cubs, who needed a win or an Arizona loss to Colorado to secure an NL wild-card berth. The Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-3.
Joe Mack’s groundout brought home Augustin Ramirez with the go-ahead run in the seventh and the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters to win their second straight game after dropping three in San Diego.
Stowers hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, off Kevin Gausman in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs evened things in the bottom of the inning when Swanson laced a broken-bat single into left field to bring home a pair of runs.
Cade Gibson (6-2), the second of four Miami relievers, struck out two in the seventh and Sandy Alcantara worked the ninth for his second save.
Reliever Ryan Rolison (9-2) took the loss.
Gausman struck out seven and allowed two runs, six hits and a walk in the first 5 2/3 innings. Miami’s Ryan Gusto allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.
Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong needed a stolen base to become the seventh player to join the 40-40 club but went 0 for 3 with a walk and remained at 45 home runs and 39 steals.
The Cubs have not named a starter for Thursday afternoon’s home finale. RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Marlins.
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Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers celebrates his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson breaks his bat hitting a two RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong watches Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
DENVER (AP) — Corbin Carroll had a two-run triple to cap a four-run first inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks kept their playoff hopes alive with a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
Gabriel Moreno drove in the first run and finished with three hits to help Arizona (84-74) close within three games of the Phillies and Cubs for an NL wild card.
Moreno, with a .310 batting average, trails the Phillies' Luis Arraez at .312 for the NL batting title with four games remaining.
Merrill Kelly (10-14) allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings to improve to 6-0 in nine starts at Coors Field since 2022. Jonathan Loáisiga earned his second save when he retired Ezequiel Tovar on a foul pop that first baseman Ildemaro Vargas caught at the railing with runners on second and third.
Ketel Marte reached second when Zac Veen misplayed his one-out liner to left field in the first and Moreno singled off rookie Mason Adams (0-2) two pitches later for the lead.
Nolan Arenado added an RBI single before Carroll hit his 17th triple — the most in the majors this season. The Rockies have allowed an MLB-high 131 first-inning runs.
Adams retired 13 straight following Carroll’s triple until Moreno singled leading off the sixth. All four runs off the right-hander were unearned. He allowed five hits and struck out eight in six innings for the first time in his six starts.
Adael Amador had an RBI double in the second and Hunter Goodman added a sacrifice fly in the third for the Rockies (57-101).
Tim Tawa hit his 11th homer off Mark Manfredi for a 5-2 lead in the eighth.
Tovar answered with his 12th home run of the season off Brandyn Garcia in the bottom of the inning.
Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (15-7, 2.89 ERA) starts Thursday opposite Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (1-5, 6.01).
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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Mason Adams works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly works against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado watches his RBI single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Mason Adams in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, right, breaks from the batter's box after connecting for a triple to drive in two runs as Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman looks on in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
