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Christopher Morel got a belt-high pitch and launched it toward Waveland Avenue for a long two-run homer.
It was another big moment for the Chicago Cubs rookie from the Dominican Republic. And he has had a few lately — at the plate and in the field.
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Morel homered in his third consecutive game, and the Cubs rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 6-5 on Friday at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs took advantage of 10 walks by five pitchers and came back after falling behind 4-0.
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Morel came up big again when he launched a tying two-run drive to left against Hansel Robles (1-3) with two outs in the sixth.
Willson Contreras then walked and later scored on a Jake Diekman wild pitch to Nico Hoerner to make it 6-5 and cap a three-run inning. That sent the Cubs to their fourth win in five games.
Morel playing a big role is becoming the norm for the Cubs.
He had five hits Thursday in a 15-7 rout of the Cincinnati Reds. He also went deep Wednesday and made a terrific throw from center field to nail a runner at the plate, helping lift the Cubs to an 8-3 win against the Reds.
Against the Red Sox, Morel started at second base. And as far as he’s concerned, that’s just fine. He’ll play wherever manager David Ross wants.
“That’s why I work on it every single day. Every position,” Morel said. “Anywhere they need me, that’s what I’m there for, the team. Wherever they need me, I’ll be there.”
The Red Sox looked ready to roll to an easy win after going 20-6 in June.
Jarren Duran, back in the lineup after missing a three-game series in Toronto because he’s unvaccinated, drove the game’s first pitch from Adrian Sampson to the center-field bushes for a home run.
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Jackie Bradley Jr. made it 4-0 with a three-run double in the second. Rich Hill breezed through four innings before exiting with a sprained left knee in a three-run fifth.
The 10 walks were the most the Red Sox issued since 11 against the Los Angeles Angels in a 15-inning game on Aug. 30, 2019.
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Hill, who debuted with the Cubs in 2005, gave up three runs and three hits in 4⅔ innings. He walked four and struck out three.
Hill appeared to be shaking his leg at one point in the fifth and was visited by an athletic trainer. The 42-year-old left-hander exited after hitting Patrick Wisdom to load the bases with two outs.
Tyler Danish came in and walked Rafael Ortega, cutting the gap to 4-3.
Hill said he “felt great” before the fifth
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“Unfortunately I put us in a tough position, and that’s what makes me sick to my stomach,” Hill said. “But overall, before that point, the ball was coming out well.”
Ian Happ had three hits for the Cubs.
Sampson gave up five runs and eight hits in 5⅓ innings. Brandon Hughes (1-0) got three outs and earned his first career win, and David Robertson worked the ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.