Alfonso Rivas broke the tie with a two-run single against his hometown team in the eighth inning, and the battered Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 7-5 on Wednesday.
Rivas, who grew up in Chula Vista and attended La Jolla Country Day School, entered the batter’s box with the bases loaded and singled to center field off Luis Garcia (0-2).
Rivas hit a two-run homer Tuesday night in a 5-4 loss. The ball hit the glove of Venezuelan center fielder José Azocar before going up and over the fence.
Rowan Wick, once a pitcher for the Padres, had a six-out save. He struck out Manny Machado to end the eighth inning with a runner on second.
He achieved his second rescue in the same number of opportunities.
The victory went to Mychal Givens (2-0).
The Cubs have quite a few people on their injured list, and they were without outfielder Seiya Suzuki for the second straight game because of a sore ankle. Shortstop Nico Hoerner left with a sore right ankle after colliding with second base umpire Dan Iassogna in center field.
For the Cubs, Venezuelans Rafael Ortega 5-2, Willson Contreras 3-2 with three runs scored and one RBI, Ildemaro Vargas 3-0. Dominican Jonathan Villar 4-0.
For the Padres, the Dominican Machado 4-2. Colombian Jorge Alfaro 4-1.