Ildemaro Vargas Is Hitting .404 and the Diamondbacks Still Can't Keep Up

The Chicago Cubs just beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Friday at Wrigley Field, and now they're breathing down Cincinnati's neck in the NL Central. Michael Busch went off with two hits, including a two-run single that sparked a three-run first inning, and the Cubs' bats kept rolling through the fourth to put this one away. They've now won 13 of their last 16 games and sit just a half-game back of the Reds for first place. This is their ninth straight win at home.

Busch Sets the Tone Early, Cubs Cruise

Busch's bases-loaded single in the first got things rolling for Chicago. The Cubs then added three more in the fourth off Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (1-2), who only lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits. Cubs starter Colin Rea (4-1) was solid in response, scattering eight hits over 5 1/3 innings while fanning six without a walk. Jacob Webb came in for the final two innings and locked it down for his first save of the season. The Cubs have now used six different relievers for saves this year. Carson Kelly added two hits for Chicago, while Alex Bergman and Dansby Swanson both drove in runs during that devastating fourth-inning stretch that pushed the lead to 6-1.

Vargas Is on Fire, But It's Still Not Enough

Here's the wild part: Ildemaro Vargas went 4-for-4 and is now batting a league-leading .404. His 24-game hitting streak to start the season is the longest to open a year in the majors since Ron LeFlore's 30-game run back in 1976 with the Detroit Tigers. When you stretch it out, Vargas' overall 27-game streak dating back to last September ranks as the second-longest in Arizona history, behind only Luis Gonzalez's 30-game streak from 1999. The D-backs got some late-inning magic when Geraldo Perdomo smashed a three-run homer in the sixth to pull them within 6-5, but they managed just one baserunner over the final three innings. Jorge Barrosa had two doubles for Arizona and scored twice, but it wasn't enough. The Diamondbacks have now lost seven of their last 10 games.

Nico Hoerner left early with a neck strain and was replaced by pinch-hitter Matt Shaw in the second inning for the Cubs. The division's starting to take shape, and the Cubs are making their move.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.