The Chicago Cubs dropped a gut-punch 5-4 walk-off loss to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at T-Mobile Park. Randy Arozarena was the story from start to finish, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI to carry Seattle. The Cubs had clawed back from a two-run deficit to tie the game, but closer Jacob Webb surrendered three runs in the bottom of the ninth without recording an out, ending Chicago's rally short and handing the Cubs a one-run defeat in nine innings.

Randy Arozarena Powers Mariners With Two-Homer Performance

Arozarena was the difference in this one, and there is no getting around it. The Mariners outfielder went 3-for-4 and drove in three of Seattle's five runs, with both of his home runs doing serious damage. On the Cubs' side, there was no matching that kind of individual output. Alex Bregman homered for Chicago, going 1-for-4 with one RBI, and Michael Busch added his own solo shot, also going 1-for-4 with one RBI. But two home runs from the Cubs were not enough to counter Arozarena's night.

David Peterson Keeps Cubs Lineup in Check for Six Innings

Seattle starter Kade Anderson worked 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He kept the Cubs manageable but not completely quiet. On the other side, Cubs left-hander David Peterson gave Chicago a quality start, tossing six innings with eight strikeouts, two earned runs, four hits allowed, and two walks. That kind of outing should have been enough to win. It wasn't, because of what happened late.

Cubs Bullpen Collapses in the Ninth Inning

Chicago's bullpen had actually handled the middle innings with reasonable efficiency. Trent Thornton threw 1.1 scoreless innings. Ryan Rolison added 0.2 shutout frames with a strikeout. Then came the ninth, and Jacob Webb could not hold the line. Webb was charged with the loss after allowing three hits and three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning, turning what had been a tied game into a walk-off defeat. That implosion negated the Cubs' comeback from a two-run hole and erased Peterson's strong start entirely.

Cubs Offense Showed Fight But Came Up Short

To their credit, the Cubs did not roll over. Trailing by two runs, Chicago battled back to tie the game before Webb's ninth-inning disaster. Bregman's home run and Busch's home run were the offensive highlights. The Cubs finished with four runs on the board, which would have been enough to win on most nights. The issue was the bullpen, not the bats.

Key Performers

  • Randy Arozarena (SEA): 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
  • Alex Bregman (CHC): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Michael Busch (CHC): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • David Peterson (CHC): 6.0 IP, 8 K, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB
  • Jacob Webb (CHC, loss): 0.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H
  • Weston Wilson (SEA): 2-for-4
  • Leo Rivas (SEA): 2-for-3, 1 RBI

What Is Next for the Cubs

The Cubs remain on the road and will need to regroup quickly after a tough walk-off defeat. The bullpen, specifically the ninth-inning situation, is the obvious area to address going forward. David Peterson gave this team every chance to win. The offense scored four runs and came back from a deficit. On Saturday night in Seattle, the late-game execution simply was not there.