Nico Hoerner's soft single off Matt Brash with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning scored pinch-runner Nick Madrigal and gave the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
Madrigal was inserted as a pinch-runner and stole third off Brash (0-1), setting up Hoerner's winning hit. Keegan Thompson (1-0) had worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th.
The Cubs were two outs away from a win in regulation until Jarred Kelenic launched a home run off closer Michael Fulmer that struck the right field message board. The homer came one inning after Seattle's Cooper Hummel was thrown out trying to advance from second to third on a grounder to short.
Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly threw five innings of two-hit ball after allowing seven runs in 4 2/3 innings in his season debut April 3 at Cincinnati. Smyly relied on a sharp knuckle-curve and had seven strikeouts. He retired the first 10 batters and was supported by exceptional defensive plays in the third by third baseman Patrick Wisdom and second baseman Hoerner.
Seattle (4-7) scored its lone run off Smyly in the fourth. Ty France doubled off a diving Miles Mastrobuoni in right field and AJ Pollock lofted a sacrifice fly.
Smyly retired the final five batters he faced, and struck out the side in the fifth - all on knuckle-curves. He threw 11 consecutive knuckle-curves at one point.
The Cubs (5-4) broke through against Luis Castillo in a resourceful manner. After Ian Happ stole second base, Cody Bellinger fouled off four consecutive pitches before capping a seven-pitch at-bat by yanking a double down the right field line, scoring Happ and snapping Castillo's scoreless streak at 14 2/3 innings.
Eric Hosmer hit an opposite field single to left that scored Bellinger with the go-ahead run. Hosmer is 12 for 18 lifetime against Castillo.
Mariners right fielder Teoscar Hernandez leaped against the right field wall and robbed Dansby Swanson of an extra-base hit to end the third.
Seiya Suzuki (left oblique) and LHP Brendan Hughes (left knee inflammation) will continue their rehab assignments with Triple-A Iowa. Manager David Ross said, in a best-case scenario, Suzuki would rejoin the Cubs on its upcoming six-game West Coast trip starting Friday at Los Angeles.
Chris Flexen (0-1, 3.00) will oppose Cubs RHP Hayden Wesneski (0-0, 5.79) Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
