Morning Marquee: Cubs pull with 2 1/2 games of first-place

After a back-and-forth battle that lasted much of the game, the Chicago Cubs scored three times in the top of the ninth, thanks to a three-run shot from Anthony Rizzo, to top the Arizona Diamondbacks by a 9-6 final Saturday night.

Rizzo tied a career high from Sept. 2012 with six runs batted in – three coming on the game-winning shot and three on a bases-clearing double earlier in the game.

Cubs starter Jake Arrieta served up half-a-dozen runs in his worst start of the season, but, thankfully, the offense picked up the slack.

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Meanwhile, on a rainy night in Kansas City, the Cardinals were silenced by the Royals and the rain, falling in a battle of first-place clubs and allowing Chicago to pull within 2 1/2 games of first-place in the National League Central.

Elsewhere around the league, Mike Napoli homered twice to lead the Red Sox to a win over the Angels, Baltimore Orioles’ left-hander Brian Matusz was ejected in extra innings for having a foreign substance on his arm – the second pitcher to be tossed in the past week – and Josh Hamilton is set to re-join the Texas Rangers on Monday after completing his big league rehab assignment.

Here’s more from around Major League Baseball:

“Cubs, Rizzo top Diamondbacks 9-6” – Cubbies Crib

“Hamilton to join Texas Rangers on Monday” – MLB.com

“Orioles find themselves in a sticky wicket” – Birds Watcher

“Royals win fifth-straight contest Saturday” – Kings of Kauffman

“Bryant staying hot halfway through May” – Cubbies Crib

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