Velázquez hits grand slam as Cubs rally past Mariners 14-9
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather, right, celebrates with catcher Yan Gomes after the Cubs defeated the Seattle Mariners 14-9 in a baseball game in Chicago, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
CHICAGO — Nelson Velázquez hit his first career grand slam in Chicago's eight-run third inning, and the Cubs rallied for a 14-9 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
Dansby Swanson went 4 for 4 and Trey Mancini homered as the Cubs won for the fifth time in six games. Mancini had three RBIs, and Nico Hoerner had two hits and drove in two runs.
Velázquez had three hits and scored three times in his first start since he was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Monday.
Swanson posted his fifth career four-hit game before departing in the sixth with tightness on his left side. He is batting .400 (16 for 40) in his first 10 games with his new team.
Eugenio Suárez and Jarred Kelenic homered for Seattle in its third consecutive loss. Suárez drove in three runs, and Ty France finished with three hits and two RBIs.
The Mariners made the most of errors by Swanson and Mancini in the second, scoring five unearned runs on their way to a 7-0 lead.
But the Cubs responded in the third, sending 13 men to the plate. Mancini hit a two-run shot and Eric Hosmer added an RBI single. Velázquez then hit a drive to left-center against Chris Flexen, making it 8-7 and sending the Wrigley Field into a frenzy.
Chicago Cubs' Trey Mancini, right, celebrates with first base coach Mike Napoli after hitting a one-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Chicago, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
Flexen (0-2), making his second start in place of the injured Robbie Ray, departed after Velázquez's homer. He was tagged for 10 hits and walked two.
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