Single from Bote powerful enough for Cubs to beat Diamondbacks

David Bote ripped a game-ending single to right-center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Javier Baez and lift the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon. Teammates mobbed Bote near first base after the hit, which gave the Cubs a series win and marked their fifth victory in the past six games. Baez finished 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, an RBI and the game-winning run.

Baez set the stage for the dramatic win when he led off the ninth with a double down the right-field line. He advanced to third base after Diamondbacks right fielder Adam Jones bobbled the ball in the grass. Jarrod Dyson hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth for Arizona. The Diamondbacks narrowly avoided their first shutout since April 7.

Cubs right-hander Pedro Strop (1-1) earned the win despite blowing a save opportunity in the ninth. Diamondbacks right-hander Archie Bradley (1-2) drew the loss in relief as he failed to notch an out in the final inning.

Chicago broke a scoreless tie in the sixth. After Albert Almora Jr. flied out and Kris Bryant grounded out, Anthony Rizzo kept the inning alive when he was hit by a pitch. That brought Baez to the plate for his third at-bat of the afternoon. Baez promptly drove a first-pitch slider to right-center field for an RBI triple to make it 1-0. It was the first triple of the season for Baez, who led the Cubs with nine triples a year ago.

The Diamondbacks were down to their final two outs in the ninth when Dyson launched a pitch into the right-field bleachers to even the score. It was the third homer in 17 games for the 5-foot-10, 165-pound outfielder, who entered the season with 14 homers in 728 career games. The blast off Strop spoiled a would-be victory for right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who pitched six scoreless innings in his first start since Aug. 18. The eighth-year veteran allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three.

Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray had a no-decision after giving up one run on four hits in six innings. He walked one and fanned four.