CHICAGO, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Alex Gonzalez lined a two-run double in the ninth inning off Trevor Hoffman Thursday as the Chicago Cubs scored five times in their final two at bats to edge the San Diego Padres, 8-7.
The Padres scored five times in the eighth, capped by a two-run homer by Gene Kingsale, to take a 7-3 lead. But Mark Bellhorn hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the frame off Jeremy Fikac to cut the deficit to one run.
The Cubs still had to find a way to beat Hoffman (1-3), one of baseball's premier closers who had converted 26 of 27 save opportunities this season.
Sammy Sosa started the ninth with a single and was forced at second by Roosevelt Brown. Pinch-hitter Fred McGriff singled to right to put runners on first and second.
After Corey Patterson lined out, Gonzalez lined a two-run double to right-center field, scoring Brown and pinch runner Delino DeShields.
It the was 13th hit of the game for the Cubs, with the light-hitting Gonzalez raising his average to .230.
Tom Gordon (1-1) recorded the final five outs for the win.
