SEATTLE — Jacob Webb’s stellar scoreless appearances streak was bound to be over at some point.
The timing of its precipitous end, however, served as a dagger for the Chicago Cubs in the second of back-to-back walk-off losses to the Seattle Mariners. The Cubs had overcome a slow start against Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson in his major-league debut but broke through in a go-ahead three-run sixth.
Their two-run lead held until the ninth.
Webb retired the first two Mariners hitters on eight pitches, then surrendered a double to Weston Wilson and an RBI single to Leo Rivas, the walk-off hero Friday night. Randy Arozarena already tormented the Cubs twice in the game before stepping into the box in the ninth. He took starter David Peterson deep on the lefty’s first pitch of the game and dramatically robbed catcher Miguel Amaya of a home run with a leaping catch over the left-field wall.
The Cubs’ plan of attack against Arozarena in the ninth was straightforward: “Throw trash, he’s going to chase,” Amaya said afterward.
But Webb hung a slider low enough in the zone, a pitch he intended to bury into the dirt, that Arozarena crushed it 404 feet to center field for a walk-off two-run home run to hand the Cubs a 5-4 loss.
“Just some poor execution on my part,” Webb said. “Facing a good lineup, they put some good swings on the ball. Just kind of falls that way. I didn’t execute today.
“I’m human. I mean, I’ve been blessed to go on that little stretch right there, but just kind of refocus and get back out there.”
The Mariners’ three-run ninth off Webb ended his streak of 24 scoreless appearances for his first runs allowed since June 20. Dating to 2000, Webb was one of only three Cubs relievers to record at least 24 straight scoreless outings in a season, joining Andrew Chafin in 2021 (26 games) and Mark Guthrie in 2003 (24 games).
Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena, left, gestures with first-base coach Eric Young Jr. after hitting a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Cubs on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)
“Baseball happened,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It shows you how impressive it’s been. It’s unfortunate when you give up some runs that obviously results in a loss, but he’s been so good and the other side’s trying to get you and they got him today.
“He’s held this whole thing together for most of the year and he’s been great. He’s having a heck of a season, today doesn’t change that. He’s going to be out there the next time there’s an opportunity.”
Peterson’s performance gave the Cubs offense a chance to eventually get to Anderson. Peterson held the Mariners to two runs on four hits in six innings while walking two and striking out eight. Initially acquired from the Mets on June 25 to bolster a rotation decimated by injuries, Peterson has stepped up in a big way for the Cubs, even when they shifted him temporarily to the bullpen to accommodate Edward Cabrera’s brief return.
In his last eight games (seven starts), Peterson has posted a 2.20 ERA.
“When I got traded over, I knew I was filling a hole in the rotation while guys were hurt and eventually, hopefully, guys were going to come back and get healthy and they did,” Peterson said. “And so, the other part of me coming over here was being able to help this team win in any way possible. So whether it was (relieving) the other day or later down the road, you’re going to have a certain amount of starters and you’re going to have other guys go out of the bullpen so to continue to be able to have that experience to lean on for whatever situation comes, that’s the main goal.
“My whole goal is to help the team win in any way possible.”
The Cubs have crushed starting pitchers the third time through the order this season. They entered Saturday with an .826 OPS in the lineup’s third plate appearance versus a starter, second-best in MLB. The Mariners and Anderson found out that out the hard way in the sixth.
Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, right, leaps to celebrate with third-base coach Quintin Berry after hitting a solo home run against the Mariners in the sixth inning Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)
Alex Bregman’s third home run in the last two games tied it, and Michael Busch followed on the next pitch from Anderson for the Cubs’ fifth back-to-back homers this season. The Mariners finally pulled Anderson, but the Cubs kept it going against right-hander Carlos Vargas as Nico Hoerner and Tyrone Taylor hit consecutive doubles to put them up 4-2. They weren’t able to tack on any more runs over the final three innings, failing to record a hit in that stretch.
The Cubs (74-56) turn to left-hander Shota Imanaga on Sunday to prevent a sweep. Their three-game skid is ill-timed. Their hold on the top National League wild-card spot has been trimmed to just 2 game over Philadelphia with the Phillies currently riding an eight-game winning streak, though the Cubs have the season tiebreaker between the teams.