Cubs Rally Past D-backs Behind Busch’s Clutch Hitting at Wrigley

On a Friday night at Wrigley Field that belonged entirely to Michael Busch and the Chicago Cubs‘ timely hitting, Arizona’s Zac Gallen couldn’t survive the first inning carnage. The Diamondbacks entered this game expecting their ace to shut down the Cubs’ middle order, but instead watched helplessly as Gallen got shelled for six runs on seven hits in just 3.2 innings. This wasn’t the performance Torey Lovullo signed up for, and frankly, neither was the result.

Busch was the difference maker, slapping a two-run single on a ground ball to left in the bottom of the first that set the tone for everything that followed. He’d add another hit later, finishing with two hits and four RBIs in what amounted to a masterclass in situational hitting. This is what separates good hitters from clutch performers, and Busch looked every bit the part on Friday night.

The Cubs’ offense was simply relentless early, with Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman scoring in that opening frame before Carson Kelly added another run on a single. By the time the first inning mercifully ended, Colin Rea had already been handed a commanding 4-0 lead. The question wasn’t whether the Cubs would win; it was whether the Diamondbacks could crawl back into it.

Perdomo’s Power Can’t Overcome Early Deficit

Give Arizona credit for fighting back. Ildemaro Vargas put together an absolutely unconscionable four-hit performance, extending his hitting streak to 27 games while driving in a run. But the real noise came from Geraldo Perdomo‘s three-run homer in the sixth inning that suddenly made this a one-run game at 6-5. For one shining moment, it looked like the Diamondbacks might steal this thing.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Dansby Swanson and Bregman had already added insurance runs with their respective hits in the fourth inning, giving the Cubs their eventual winning margin. The Cubs’ lineup was simply deeper and more productive than Arizona’s, and when you’re facing Colin Rea, who struck out six while scattering eight hits across 5.1 innings, you can’t afford to leave runs on the table.

Webb Locks it Down for Chicago

Jacob Webb entered for the save situation and was absolutely surgical, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. This is what separates contenders from pretenders, when your closer can come in with runners potentially in scoring position and simply shut the door. Webb did exactly that.

Make no mistake, this was an offensive showcase that happened to have a winner. The Cubs’ balanced attack, Busch’s clutch at-bats, and ultimately the timely execution down the stretch proved too much for an Arizona team that couldn’t capitalize on Vargas’s excellent night and Perdomo’s power surge. Friday belonged to Chicago, and the Diamondbacks will spend the rest of this series trying to forget how badly Gallen’s early innings cost them.