The Chicago Cubs (33-35) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (32-36) 4-2 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. The three game series is now tied up at 1-1 with the series finale scheduled for Thursday night.
Isaac Paredes gave the Rays a 1-0 lead with a RBI double in the third inning, but the Cubs tied the game in the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth Jose Siri gave the Rays a 2-1 lead that would last until the seventh inning. In the Cubs half of the seventh Cody Bellinger hit a three-run home run that would give the Cubs a 4-2 lead that would prove to be the difference.
In the ninth inning the Rays got a solo homer from Jose Caballero to pull within 4-3, but that would be as close as the Rays would get. Aaron Civale got the start for the Rays on his 29th birthday, allowing just one earned run on five hits in five and two-third innings while striking out six and walking one. Garrett Cleavinger (4-1, 2.63) took the loss after allowing his first home run of the season to Bellinger.
The Rays will look to take the series from the Cubs when the two teams meet in the rubber game of a three-game series on Thursday night. First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 6:50 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 5:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES