Ryan Waldschmidt hits game-winning 2-run HR with 2 outs in 9th to send
D-backs past Cubs 5-4
[August 26, 2026]
By DAVID BRANDT
PHOENIX (AP) — Pinch-hitter Ryan Waldschmidt hit a
game-winning, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the
Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to stun the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Tuesday
night.
The D-backs pulled one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL
wild-card spot. |
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) pauses on the
pitcher's mound after giving up a three-run home run to Chicago Cubs'
Ian Happ, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday,
Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) |
|
Trailing 4-3 in the ninth, Tim Tawa coaxed a one-out walk from
Jacob Webb to start the decisive rally. Ildemaro Vargas flew out
to right field for the second out before pinch-runner Jose
Fernandez stole second base. Waldschmidt — a rookie — then
launched a no-doubt homer over the left field fence to set off a
raucous celebration.
It was Waldschmidt's second walk-off homer of the season.
Arizona trailed 4-0 in the eighth before mounting a two-out
rally against reliever Daniel Palencia. Gabriel Moreno hit a
check swing RBI double that hugged the first base line and
stayed fair before Geraldo Perdomo's two-run single cut the
deficit to 4-3. Webb relieved Palencia and coaxed a ground out
from Max Kepler to end the threat.
Ian Happ hit a three-run homer in the fourth to push the Cubs
ahead 3-0. Michael Busch's RBI single in the sixth made it 4-0.
Busch and Seiya Suzuki both had two hits.
The D-backs' rally ruined a great outing for Clay Holmes, who
breezed through the D-backs' lineup, giving up two singles and
two walks while striking out five over seven scoreless innings.
The right-hander has given up just one earned run over his past
19 innings, spanning three starts.
Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt (7-2) gave up four runs on six hits and
two walks, striking out three. He didn't allow a hit over the
first three innings, but gave up a single and a double in the
fourth before Happ's three-run homer.
Up next
The D-backs send LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 2.61 ERA) to the
mound to face Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (8-2, 4.15).
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