The Chicago Cubs came from behind in the final two innings to beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field. After an awful 12-game losing streak, the Cubs have rebounded for their first sweep of 2012 against the Friars. Darwin Barney hit the walk-off, two-run homer in the ninth inning.
With Ryan Dempster struggling on the mound, the Cubs got behind early. In his tenth start of the season, the veteran starter allowed six runs over 4.1 innings while battling his command with four walks and three homers allowed. The bullpen came in and dominated the remainder of the game, though: Casey Coleman, Carlos Marmol, Randy Wells and James Russell combined to pitch 4.2 shutout innings to finish off the game.
With the bullpen dealing, the Cubs simply needed the offense to come through against a 6-3 deficit. It looked like they might finally break through in the fifth inning after loading the bases, but they only managed a pair of run-scoring walks before the end of the inning.
Needing some late-game heroics, the middle infielders came through for Chicago. In the bottom of the eighth, Starlin Castro came through with a stunning infield single with two outs after Tony Campana stole both second and third while pinch-running for Reed Johnson.
That merely gave tied up the game at 6-6, though, so things went to the bottom of the ninth looking like the fans would be treated to some free baseball. But then Barney, who was already in the midst of a great day, came through with the walk-off, two-run homer off off San Diego's Dale Thayer. Barney finished the game going 2-for-3 with a homer, two walks, three runs scored, three RBI to lead the Cubs.
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