Chicago Cubs rally to overcome deficit for 7-3 win over Rays

The Chicago Cubs were slow to get the offense going. But once they did? It was plenty as they downed the Rays, 7-3.

The Chicago Cubs got a solid start out of John Lackey–although it didn’t seem like it initially–and used it to beat the Tampa Bay Rays to earn a split. Lackey allowed three runs on six hits, but the bullpen held down the Rays while the offense made their comeback.

The Cubs (42-42) needed a clutch hit from Jon Jay, who was pinch-hitting for the starter Lackey. Jay connected for a three-run home run, taking Lackey (5-9, 5.20) off the hook. It erased a strong start for the Rays (44-42) starter Blake Snell (0-5, 4.85) who saw his ERA come down almost half a run.

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In the seventh, the Cubs took the lead as Ian Happ hit a ground ball against a drawn-in infield to score two to give the Cubs a 5-3 lead. They added two more in the eighth on a double off the bat of Anthony Rizzo to tack on to their lead, making it 7-3.

Rizzo, Happ and Javier Baez each collected two hits, but it was the collective effort of the bullpen that impressed for the Cubs.

Pedro Strop (3-2, 3.13), Carl Edwards, Koji Uehara and Wade Davis worked the final three innings to help the Cubs close out the victory.

The Cubs will see the Milwaukee Brewers come into town for a single game as part of a rain make-up date. Zach Davies (9-4, 5.04) will take on the Cubs Mike Montgomery (1-5, 2.80) in the single game series.