Cubs manager David Ross sent a text message to Nico Hoerner a night earlier letting the second baseman know he would be held out starting the series opener in San Francisco but to be ready coming off the bench.
Then the Cubs called on him and pinch-hitter Hoerner delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh to back Marcus Stroman's fifth straight winning start and Chicago beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 to snap a four-game losing streak.
"It's like playing a video game, it really is, the way he's able to throw the ball both sides of the plate with his sinker, his slider, curveball, change-up," catcher Tucker Barnhart said. "It's been so much fun to catch."Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani gave up Seiya Suzuki's leadoff single in the seventh then walked Ian Happ before manager Gabe Kapler turned it over to reliever Ryan Walker.
Barnhart also had an RBI single in the decisive seventh on a night Ross shook up his lineup trying to "create a spark" given the recent offensive struggles. Chicago did just enough for Stroman. Adbert Alzolay retired Brandon Crawford on a called third strike to end the game for his third save as the Cubs improved to 8-7 against the NL West.
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