Wrigley Field was witness to baseball mayhem on Friday afternoon, as the Chicago Cubs pulled off an electrifying 13-11 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a rollercoaster of a game that saw a combined 16 runs scored in the eighth inning — the most ever in that frame at the iconic ballpark.
This clash, which had been billed as a potential slugfest in our America Bet preview of the MLB Match Fixtures 18/04/25, more than lived up to the hype. We expected offensive fireworks — and fans were treated to a true classic between two of the most productive offences in the National League.
Back-and-Forth Bedlam
Things looked to be comfortably in hand for the Cubs heading into the late innings. Ian Happ’s seventh-inning grand slam appeared to be the dagger, stretching Chicago’s lead to 6-1. Carson Kelly, a former Diamondback, had already set the tone with a two-run homer earlier in the second. By the bottom of the seventh, Wrigley was buzzing with what seemed to be another dominant home win.
But the eighth inning shattered expectations — and records.
The Diamondbacks sent 13 men to the plate in a jaw-dropping inning that featured a grand slam by Eugenio Suarez and a three-run bomb from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., flipping a 6-1 deficit into an 11-7 lead. Randal Grichuk’s two-run double off Porter Hodge added fuel to the fire as Arizona erupted for 10 runs in a single frame.
Yet, just as swiftly as momentum had swung, the Cubs yanked it back.
Chicago responded with a historic eight-run frame of their own, triggered by Bryce Jarvis hitting Nico Hoerner and walking Pete Crow-Armstrong to open the inning. Carson Kelly, already the hero of the early innings, blasted his second homer of the game — a three-run shot to make it 11-10. Not to be outdone, Kyle Tucker launched a go-ahead two-run blast, and Seiya Suzuki immediately followed with a solo homer to complete the rally and give the Cubs a 13-11 edge.
Ryan Pressly worked a clean ninth to lock in the win and move to 2-1 on the season.
Standout Stars
Carson Kelly was the undisputed star of the day. Facing his former team, the Cubs catcher went 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs — his second home run acting as the emotional and tactical turning point of the game.
Ian Happ had three hits and four RBIs, including the critical grand slam that originally gave Chicago breathing room. Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch also chipped in with three hits apiece, the former’s two-run shot ultimately proving the game-winner.
For Arizona, there were bright spots despite the defeat. Corbin Carroll continued his on-base streak, now up to 20 games, with a pair of singles and an RBI. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s clutch three-run homer and Eugenio Suarez’s grand slam exemplified the Diamondbacks’ depth and fight.
Corbin Burnes, Arizona’s starter and marquee free-agent signing, recovered well after a shaky second inning. He surrendered two runs on six hits across six frames, with no walks and three strikeouts — a line that was serviceable but left him winless in four starts this season.
Betting Tips That Hit or Came Close
As highlighted in our America Bet preview, this game had “high-scoring shootout” written all over it. The Over 10.5 Total Runs recommendation came through emphatically — with 24 runs scored in total.
✅ Winning Bet Tips:
✅ Over 10.5 Total Runs – comfortably cashed
✅ First Inning to Have a Run Scored – Kelly’s two-run homer got that done
✅ Carson Kelly to Record an RBI – he had five!
✅ Cubs Total Runs Over 4.5 – shattered
✅ Dansby Swanson Over 1.5 Total Bases – he contributed in the rally, though Kelly stole the headlines
❌ Misses and Near Misses:
❌ Corbin Burnes Over 6.5 Strikeouts – he only managed three
❌ Corbin Carroll to Steal a Base – he stayed put despite two hits
❌ Arizona to Win – they looked poised in the 8th, but the Cubs’ rally ruined the prediction
This match reinforced how volatile baseball betting can be — especially when two top-tier offences meet and bullpens falter late. Still, readers of our preview were well-informed of the offensive explosiveness on both sides and the potential for a see-saw contest.
A Win That Sets the Tone
The Cubs now sit atop the league in total runs scored (137) and are turning Wrigley into a fortress. They opened their eight-game homestand in dramatic fashion and sent a statement to both their fans and their upcoming National League rivals.
For Arizona, the loss snapped a five-game winning streak and highlighted some worrying trends in their bullpen — particularly Bryce Jarvis and Joe Mantiply, who couldn’t stem the Cubs’ eighth-inning flood.
Still, the Diamondbacks left plenty to build on. Carroll remains one of the league’s most dangerous table-setters, and their eighth-inning explosion showed this team can flip the script on anyone, anytime.
As the season unfolds, this matchup may be one we look back on as one of 2025’s early classics.
