CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Nico Hoerner had three RBIs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning that sparked the Chicago Cubs over the fading the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Ian Happ homered and Michael Busch doubled for the Cubs, who have won four of five and lead for the top NL wild card.<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay has lost seven of nine, dropping to 73-76.<\/p>\n
Junior Caminero, the Rays\u2019 22-year-old emerging star, hit his 44th homer.<\/p>\n
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..<\/p>\n
Ian Happ cut Chicago\u2019s deficit to 3-2 in the sixth with his 22nd homer.<\/p>\n
Hoerner had a two-out double off Edwin Uceta (9-3) for a 4-3 lead in the sixth after Willi Castro and Matt Shaw singled.<\/p>\n
Yandy D\u00edaz 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Key moment<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay lost a run in the seventh that would have increased its lead to 4-2. With runners at the corners, Jake Mangum hit a ground ball to Hoerner at second, who threw to shortstop Dansby Swanson for a forceout as Mangum beat the return throw to first and Caminero crossed the plate. A video review determined Lowe violated the slide rule by bumping into Swanson, giving the Cubs an inning-ending double play.<\/p>\n
Key stat<\/p>\n
Hoerner is batting .299, second in the NL to Philadelphia\u2019s Trea Turner (.305) among qualified hitters.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Rays: Tampa Bay opens a series Monday at Tampa Bay, which starts RHP Trey Yesavage in his major league debut.<\/p>\n
Cubs: RHP Jameson Taillon (9-6, 4.15 ERA) starts Monday at the Pirates and RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.47).<\/p>\n
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