​By the time Michael Conforto got his usual opportunity off the bench, the Chicago Cubs were cruising.A six-run first inning that knocked out Detroit Tigers starter Framber Valdez after 10 batters, 42 pitches and two outs gave Cubs left-hander David Peterson all the run support he needed in an 11-2 victory. Conforto’s moment arrived in the fifth with the Cubs holding a seven-run lead. It was a typical spot for manager Craig Counsell to utilize the veteran, and even as the Cubs headed toward a blowout win, Conforto got the call with Tigers right-hander Brenan Hanifee on the mound.Before this year, Conforto had tallied only two pinch-hit home runs in 10 seasons and 109 plate appearances. The Cubs have found good spots to deploy Conforto, and it’s paid off. He slugged his MLB-leading fourth pinch-hit home run Tuesday night, a two-run shot, and ninth of the season off a changeup left over the middle of the plate.“It’s always, can you find a player that can do this job and be successful at it? And I don’t know if there’s any blueprint for it, but Michael has done a fabulous job at it,” Counsell said. “It’s a real weapon to have somebody like that. I mean, all year it feels like his biggest hits have been pinch hits.”Conforto’s four pinch-hit home runs this season are tied with Glenallen Hill (1999) for the most by a Cub in franchise history since at least 1901. His record-tying home runs have come in just 29 pinch-hit plate appearances. He is the first big-leaguer with at least four pinch-hit home runs in a season since Austin Slater and Pablo Sandoval in 2021.“It kind of started in a place that I had an understanding of what my role was going to be, at least to start the season, and so just kind of gearing everything towards how do I do that job the best that I can and tweaking my routines and learning along the way, trial and error,” Conforto said. “In some of the bigger spots, just trying to see myself in those situations and seeing the result that the team needs.”Eight of the Cubs starters reached base at least once Tuesday, led by Pete Crow-Armstrong tying his career high by getting on five times, including three walks.The Cubs (57-44) needed Peterson to step up in the rotation amid all their starting pitcher injuries after they acquired him from the New York Mets on June 25. Peterson produced his first quality start as a Cub with 6 2/3 shutout innings against the Tigers while allowing only three hits and one walk. He has surrendered two runs or fewer in three of his four starts with the Cubs.“When those guys are running to the bat rack and excited to hit, my job’s to put the ball in the zone and get quick outs and let them get back in and start hitting again,” Peterson said. “(The defense) gives you a lot of confidence to throw strikes, put the ball on the ground.”Peterson and Conforto spent the 2020-21 seasons together with the Mets, and both are producing in a Cubs uniform the way they expected of each ot