Brad Boxberger blows save, allows two homers as Cubs walk off on D-backs

The Arizona Diamondbacks blew a five-run lead through 5.5 innings Thursday, but the climax of the Chicago Cubs’ 7-6 victory didn’t come until the final moments.

Cubs second baseman David Bote entered the game an out into the ninth with Ben Zobrist aboard via a walk and smashed a two-run homer off D-backs closer Brad Boxberger to tie the game, 6-6. Two pitches later, Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo caught an 80 mph changeup for a solo home run to wrap a walk-off win.

It was Boxberger’s fifth blown save of the year and first since he had two in a row on June 17 and 22.

Chicago’s victory closed out a four-game series split between the teams.

The D-backs built a 6-1 lead after falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the second. In the fourth inning, former Cubs catcher Alex Avila nipped at his old team with a two-run homer for Arizona off Tyler Chatwood. In the top of the fifth frame, four Chicago walks with a double play sandwiched in between loaded the bases and set up Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed’s grand slam, the first for the D-backs this year.

But Chicago chipped away.

The Cubs answered Arizona’s slam with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and another run in the sixth to pull within 6-4 heading into the seventh.

Arizona starter Zack Godley went 5.2 frames, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while striking out six and walking one.

D-backs relievers Yoshihisa Hirano and Archie Bradley pitched a combined 2.1 scoreless frames with two strikeouts, no walks and no hits before Boxberger entered the game only to blow the save opportunity.

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