Cabrera, Phils reign in rain, thwart Cubs
Walk-off homer cuts Braves’ lead in East
PHILADELPHIA — Asdrubal Cabrera provided the pop the Philadelphia Phillies expected when they acquired him last month.
Cabrera’s solo home run with one out in the 10th lifted the Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday in a game played through steady rain.
Cabrera connected off Steve Cishek (4-2), driving an opposite-field shot to left-center to help the Phillies pull within two games of Atlanta atop the National League East. The Braves lost 3-2 to Pittsburgh.
“That’s why we traded for him,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Cabrera, who came from the New York Mets on July 31. “Big moment. Absolutely demolished the ball.”
Cabrera got mobbed by teammates and showered with bubble gum and a sports drink after circling the bases following his fifth career walk-off homer and first since hitting one off teammate Edubray Ramos on Sept. 22, 2016.
“It feels awesome to help the team win,” Cabrera said. “This game is not easy.”
Pat Neshek (2-1) posted the win with a scoreless inning.
Javier Baez hit a liner out to left off Nick Pivetta for his 29th home run and Nl-leading 98th RBI to put the NL Central-leading Cubs up 1-0 in the fifth.
Philadelphia tied it at 1 on Cesar Hernandez’s RBI single off Jose Quintana in the sixth. Roman Quinn hit a double and scored on the hit to left.
Phillies reliever Adam Morgan escaped a jam in the seventh when Baez hit a hard liner to right with two runners on, but Phillies newcomer Jose Bautista reached out to make the catch and doubled Tommy La Stella off second to end the inning.
Seranthony Dominguez struck out Cubs pinch hitter Victor Caratini to leave the bases loaded in the eighth.