Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki heads to first during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Rookie Seiya Suzuki extended his hitting streak to nine games, tying Akinori Iwamura for the longest by a Japanese-born player at the start of a major league career, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on a cold Tuesday night.
Suzuki singled to left leading off the fourth inning, matching the mark that Iwamura set with the Rays in 2007 and tying Andy Pafko's record for a Cubs player at the start of his career, set in 1943. Suzuki was thrown out by left fielder Randy Arozarena trying to stretch his hit to a double, a call upheld in a video review.
Suzuki is batting .429 after a 2 for 3 night.
There were intermittent snow flurries before the game, and the temperature at gametime was 40 degrees with a 16 mph that caused a 34 windchill. Several Rays wore handwarmers.
Ian Happ's RBI single in the eighth against Jeffrey Springs broke a 2-2 tie and drove in Suzuki, who was hit by a pitch from Jason Adam (0-1) leading off the inning.
Frank Schwindel homered to right in the eighth off Javy Guerra, who made his Tampa Bay debut, one day after he was acquired San Diego for cash.
Keegan Thompson (2-0) got Arozarena to ground into an inning-ending double play in the fifth and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings while allowing one hit.
David Robertson pitched around a walk in the ninth for his fourth save in four chances, one shy of the 37-year-old right-hander's total from 2018-21. He retired Manuel Margot on a game-ending groundout.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks gave up 2 runs and 5 hits in 4⅓ innings.
Shane McClanahan allowed 2 runs - 1 earned - and 4 hits in 6 innings with 9 strikeouts.
Patrick Wisdom hit his first home run of the season in the second, a drive about three-quarters up the left-field bleachers. The two-run drive scored Suzuki, who reached on a throwing error by shortstop Taylor Walls.
Wisdom has seven hits in his last four games after starting the season 1 for 21.
Tampa Bay tied the score on RBI singles by Ji-Man Choi in the fourth and Josh Lowe in the fifth.
Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Seiya Suzuki, off Tampa Bay Rays' Shane McClanahan during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom watches his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays' Shane McClanahan during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. Seiya Suzuki also scored on the play. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ hits an RBI single off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jeffrey Springs during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. Seiya Suzuki scored on the play. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Cubs celebrate the team's 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays after a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras celebrates with relief pitcher David Robertson the team's 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays after a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher David Robertson delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. The Cubs won 4-2. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe (15) steals second as Chicago Cubs' Nick Madrigal fields a high throw from catcher Willson Contreras during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe, right, and Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras watch Lowe's RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Tampa Bay Rays' Ji-Man Choi watches his RBI-single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks leaves the game during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Tampa Bay Rays' Ji-Man Choi, right, celebrates his RBI-single with first base coach Chris Prieto during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Monday, April 18, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)