CHICAGO _ After watching Carl Edwards Jr. allow his first run of the season on a go-ahead home run Thursday, the Cubs got some timely relief when they capitalized on shortstop Freddy Galvis' throwing error for a 5-4 victory over the Phillies in 13 innings.
Javier Baez sprayed teammates with a water gun to lead the postgame celebration on the field after the Cubs overcame a deficit for the 10th time this season.
"It's not ideal," Miguel Montero said. "We know what we can do. We know we can actually score some runs. We have done it and it's a good feeling. But we have to step it up a little bit more and get the lead early so we take stress off our pitchers."
The Cubs did take a 2-0 lead early but allowed the Phillies back in the game. After Edwards gave up a home run to Cameron Rupp in the eighth for a 4-3 deficit, Montero's homer tied it back up in the bottom of the inning.
"It's a good feeling when you have confidence. We know we can come back," Montero said. "And we never quit. That's our team. We have been saying that for years and have been proving it."
The Cubs used seven relievers so the victory places pressure on Kyle Hendricks to pitch deep into Friday's series opener against the Yankees. Closer Wade Davis pitched for the third consecutive day, reliever Koji Uehara pitched in back-to-back games for the third time this season and left-hander Mike Montgomery threw three innings and 45 pitches of scoreless relief.
But the Cubs (16-12) were collectively giddy, especially after Albert Almora Jr. started the winning rally when he legged out a double down the left-field line leading off the 13th.
"It's the 13th inning, (so) I have to get to second base," Almora said. "I don't want to stay on first. What happens if I don't (make it)? It's one out, and we still have guys who can hit it out."
One out later, speedy Matt Szczur hit a grounder to second, but Galvis' throw on his attempt to complete a double play sailed wide of first, Almora came home and a wild celebration ensued.
"We never quit," Almora said of the Cubs' motto. "It's on the World Series rings, and it really comes home, it really makes a lot of sense and it's in our organization."
Almora's running and Galvis' error kept Maddon from having to use starter Brett Anderson to pitch the 14th inning.
"We're still asking people to take one step forward and see what we have," said Maddon, who also would prefer to avoid using Edwards on Friday.
Maddon hasn't been shy about starting Montero, 33, in consecutive games. Montero is batting .536 with three home runs in his last 11 games.
"It was an amazing basket (homer) when I hit it," said Montero, who prefers that the wind blows in only when he's catching. "I hit it good. I honestly never thought I had a chance to hit it out, but I got lucky."
And the Cubs will take those breaks. They gave the Phillies two as Jon Jay was picked off after leading off with a single in the first and Ben Zobrist was nabbed off second representing the winning run in the ninth. Those miscues were offset when first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant each started line-drive double plays in the sixth and 12th, respectively.
"It was a really interesting game," Maddon said.
