CHICAGO -- In a game that seemed destined for a quiet ending, the Chicago Cubs transformed a last-gasp home run into an 11th-inning circus, stealing a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.

The heroics came from a familiar source — Alex Bregman, who erased a 2-0 deficit with one swing in the ninth inning, and from Pete Crow-Armstrong, whose speed and a defensive miscue turned a would-be out into a walk-off dash.

For eight innings, the Blue Jays appeared in control. Starter Dylan Cease was electric, allowing just two hits while striking out 10 over seven innings, and Toronto’s offense, led by Alejandro Kirk’s four hits, built a 2-0 lead. But the Cubs, fresh off a sweep of the Dodgers, refused to fold.

Louis Varland, the Blue Jays’ closer who had converted all 24 save chances this season, entered the ninth with a two-run cushion. He retired the first two batters easily, then allowed a single to Crow-Armstrong. With two outs and a 1-2 count on Bregman, Varland threw a knuckle curve that caught too much of the plate. Bregman lined it over the left-field wall for his 12th homer of the season, tying the game and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Varland’s perfect save streak was shattered, and the game moved to extra innings.

Toronto threatened in the top of the 10th but couldn’t break through. Trent Thornton (5-4) entered for the Cubs in the 11th and worked out of a jam, leaving the door open for Chicago’s walk-off.

In the bottom of the 11th, Crow-Armstrong led off against Brendon Little (0-3) with a single. The automatic runner, Carson Kelly, tried to score from second on the hit but was thrown out at the plate by Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho. Crow-Armstrong, now at first with two outs, decided to test the Toronto battery. He took off for second, then swiped third — but catcher Brandon Valenzuela’s throw sailed wide of third baseman Josh Smith, rolling into left field. Crow-Armstrong popped up, sprinted home, and slid headfirst into the plate, beating the late tag. Before touching the plate, he removed his helmet and tossed it into the protective netting, then was engulfed by his teammates.

“I just saw the ball get away and thought, ‘Go, go, go,’” Crow-Armstrong said afterward. “It’s one of those plays where you trust your legs and hope for the best.”

This was the Cubs’ 11th walk-off win of the season, a testament to their resilience. They moved to 10-4 during a stretch of 17 games in 17 days, a grueling schedule that began with rain delays and rescheduled games. Thursday’s matchup originally was rained out on June 21.

For Toronto, the loss was a bitter pill. Cease’s performance was wasted, and the Blue Jays’ offense went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 men on base. Second baseman Luis Urias left the game in the fourth inning after appearing to injure himself running out a double, adding to the club’s frustration.

Alejandro Kirk went 4 for 5, but his efforts were overshadowed by the late collapse. The Blue Jays now head to Philadelphia, where José Soriano (9-6, 3.29 ERA) will face Zack Wheeler (10-2, 2.49) on Friday.

The Cubs, meanwhile, travel to Kansas City for the start of a series. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-10, 4.38) will make his Cubs debut, hoping to continue the momentum from this dramatic win.

At Wrigley, the night ended with a joyful mob and a helmet flying into the netting — a fitting image for a team that refuses to quit.