Nico Hoerner had three RBIs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning that sparked the Chicago Cubs over the fading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Sunday.
Ian Happ homered and Michael Busch doubled for the Cubs, who have won four of five and lead for the top NL wild card.
Tampa Bay has lost seven of nine, dropping to 73-76.
Junior Caminero, the Rays' 22-year-old emerging star, hit his 44th homer.
Javier Assad (3-1) scattered two hits in 2 1/3 scoreless innings for Chicago and Andrew Kittredge struck out Junior Caminero with a runner on first for his fifth save in six chances..
Ian Happ cut Chicago's deficit to 3-2 in the sixth with his 22nd homer.
Hoerner had a two-out double off Edwin Uceta (9-3) for a 4-3 lead in the seventh after Willi Castro and Matt Shaw singled.
Yandy Díaz and Caminero hit back-to-back home runs for the Rays starting the game off Shota Imanaga, who allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.
Christopher Morel, who played for the Cubs from 2022 to 2024, exited in the sixth with an abdominal bruise after he was hit by a foul ball.
Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (9-6, 4.15 ERA) starts Monday at the Pirates and RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.47).
