Surging Cubs Bounce Past Diamondbacks 4-3

CHICAGO – Aramis Ramirez had a pinch-hit RBI single with one out in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs past the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Friday.

Ramirez’s bouncer eluded Diamondbacks third baseman Troy Glaus and trickled into left field. Jose Macias raced around from second base and easily beat the throw from Luis Gonzalez for Chicago’s fifth win in seven games.

Todd Walker started the Cubs’ rally in the ninth with a walk off Brian Bruney. Rookie Matt Murton sacrificed pinch-runner Ronny Cedeno to second, Macias followed with a walk and pinch-hitter Michael Barrett singled to left to drive in the tying run.

Ramirez, who didn’t start because of a strained right quad, then knocked a chopper into left and Macias dove head-first into home as the Cubs poured out of the dugout in celebration.

Roberto Novoa (3-3) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win. Bruney (1-3) blew his fourth save.

Glaus had given the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead in the eighth with a two-run single off Mark Prior.

With Chicago leading 2-1, pinch-hitter Quinton McCracken and Craig Counsell singled off Prior, and Chad Tracy’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third with one out.

Prior intentionally walked Gonzalez to face the slumping Glaus, who had only one hit in his previous 23 at-bats. But the Diamondbacks third baseman singled sharply to left on an 0-2 pitch to drive in both runners.

Arizona’s Javier Vazquez gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked two. After allowing a two-run homer to Henry Blanco in the second, Vazquez retired 15 of the next 17 batters.

Shawn Green cut Arizona’s deficit in half with a groundout in the seventh. Tony Clark led off with a double, moved to third on an error by Cubs center fielder Jerry Hairston and scored on Green’s grounder to second.

Prior, who faced the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career, allowed three runs on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings while striking out eight and walking two.

After Counsell led off the game with a double, the Cubs’ ace retired 13 of his next 15 batters.

Blanco’s homer to left on a 3-2 pitch culminated an 11-pitch at-bat and gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the second. He fouled off three pitches with the count full before his fourth homer of the season.

Murton tripled with one out in the fourth, but was stranded at third after Macias flyed out to center, Blanco was walked intentionally and Prior popped to second.

Notes:@ Ramirez is expected to start on Saturday. … Murton started in left field and went 1-for-3. He’s 15-for-32 since being called up from Double-A West Tenn. … Cubs RHP Kerry Wood, on the DL with shoulder inflammation, threw in the bullpen before Friday’s game. He’s expected to pitch a simulated game this weekend, then be assigned to the minors for rehabilitation. … SS Nomar Garciaparra, also on the DL, was at Wrigley Field for a pregame workout and batting practice.