Nico Hoerner's big night helps Cubs clinch series vs. Rays

Nico Hoerner homered to highlight his three-hit performance and Michael Conforto drove in a pair, fueling the visiting Chicago Cubs to a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

Hoerner added an RBI double during a five-run fifth inning for the Cubs, who recorded consecutive wins for the first time this season and notched their first series victory of 2026.

Colin Rea (1-0) allowed one run on two hits in five innings while taking the spot in the rotation of Cade Horton. The latter is nursing a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and will undergo season-ending surgery.

Hoby Milner retired the side in order in the sixth and Ben Brown followed suit in the seventh before permitting a two-out RBI single to Jake Fraley in the eighth. Hunter Harvey retired the side in the ninth to seal the victory.

Jonathan Aranda had a sacrifice fly in the third for the Rays, who committed three errors en route to losing for the fifth time in their last eight games.

Chicago quickly loaded the bases in the fifth before Conforto sent a drive that caromed off the glove of center fielder Jonny DeLuca. The play initially plated a pair of runs, however right fielder Fraley's throw sailed past the cutoff man and rolled into the infield, allowing an alert Dansby Swanson to scamper home and give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.

Hoerner stepped up two batters later and plated Conforto with an RBI double down the right field line. Hoerner didn't stay on second base for long, as he came around to score on catcher Hunter Feduccia's throwing error.

That spelled the end for Tampa Bay starter Joe Boyle (0-1), who was charged with six runs (five earned) on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Leading off the game, Hoerner fouled off three consecutive pitches before depositing a 1-2 curveball from Boyle over the wall in left field. The homer was the first of the season for Hoerner.

Tampa Bay forged a 1-1 tie in the third. DeLuca singled off Rea to lead off the inning, stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Aranda's sacrifice fly.

--Field Level Media