Back-to-Back Homers in Ninth Give Cubs Win

CHICAGO -- Back-to-back home runs gave the fans at Wrigley Field an exciting end to a game the Chicago Cubs trailed Thursday.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second but the Arizona Diamondbacks tallied two in the fourth and led 6-3 in the fifth after a grand slam by Nick  Ahmed. The Cubs pulled within 6-4 in the sixth and that's where the score stood until the bottom of the ninth.

The ninth started as pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist drew a walk. With one out, rookie David Bote who had just arrived that day, pounded out a game-tying two-run homer off Brad Boxberger. Anthony Rizzo then followed two pitches later with his solo shot to produce a 7-6 victory.

The Cubs finished with nine hits led by Rizzo with two singles, a home run and two RBI in his 1,000th career game. Kyle Schwarber had a double and drove in two runs while Willson Contreras, Zobrist and Tommy La Stella had a single each.

The Cubs tallied two in the fifth when pinch-hitter La Stella and Bote singled. Rizzo singled home a run and Bote scored on an error. Schwarber doubled in the sixth. Javier Baez struck out but reached base on a wild pitch and Schwarber came home.

The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Cole Hamels from the Texas Rangers Thursday. The Rangers are also expected to send a significant amount of cash to the Cubs to offset the approximately $8 million remaining on Hamels' contract.

Yankees' Judge Breaks Wrist

The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge is headed to the DL after breaking his wrist when hit by a pitch in last night’s win against the Royals. Judge stayed in the game for several more innings, but the team says he’ll be out for several weeks.

The New York Yankees have acquired starting pitcher J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays. In return, the Jays get infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney.

Astros Acquire Maldonado

The Houston Astros acquired catcher Martin Maldonado from the Los Angeles Angels yesterday for left-hander Patrick Sandoval and $250,000 in international signing bonus money.

Brewers Pick Up Relief Pitcher

The Milwaukee Brewers have picked up relief pitcher Joakim Soria from the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Kodi Medeiros and Wilber Pérez.

Nationals' Strasburg Back on DL

The Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg is back on the disabled list after being diagnosed with a cervical nerve impingement. Strasburg recently came back after spending more than a month on the DL.

Thursday, July 26 Scoreboard

Chicago Cubs 7, Arizona 6

Los Angeles Angels 12, Chicago White Sox 8

Philadelphia 9, Cincinnati 4

New York Yankees 7, Kansas City 2

Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3

New York Mets 12, Pittsburgh 6

Minnesota 2, Boston 1

Los  Angeles Dodgers 8, Atlanta 2

Washington 10, Miami 3

Milwaukee 7, San Francisco 5

Oakland 7, Texas 6

Friday, July 27 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cleveland at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

New York Mets at Pittsburgh, 6:05 pm.

Kansas City at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta, 6:35 p.m.

Toronto at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.

Texas at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Oakland at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Seattle at Los Angeles Angels, 9:0-7 p.m.

Arizona at San Diego, 9;10 p.m.

MIlwaukee at San Francisco, 9;15 p.m

Saturday, July 28 Schedule (All Times Central)

Kansas City at New York Yankees, noon

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Detroit, 5:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at CIncinnati, 5:40 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

New York Mets at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Toronto at Chicago White Sox, 6:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta, 6;10 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Texas at Houston, 6:10 p.m.

Oakland at Colorado, 7:10 p.m.

Arizona at San Diego, 7:40 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 8:05 p.m.

Seattle at Los Angeles Angels, 8:07 p.m.

Sunday, July 29 Schedule (All Times Central)

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 12:05 p.m.

Kansas City at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Boston, 12:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cincinnati, 12:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Detorit, 12:01 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 12:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta, 12:35 p.m.

Texas at Houston, 1:10 pm.

Toronto at Chicago White Sox, 1:10 p.m.

Oakland at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.

Seattle at Los Angeles Angels, 3 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona at San Diego, 3:10 p.m.

Chicago  Cubs at St. Louis, 7 p.m.