Diamondbacks Rattle the Cubs, Take Two of Three
By Kyle Jacobs
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Call to the Pen
The Diamondbacks continue to roll with house money after taking two out of three from the Cubs. Arizona’s record now sits as 21-22.
Friday: Game One
The first game of the series went to the Diamondbacks, 5-4 in 13 innings. The three names to remember from this game were A.J. Pollock, Paul Goldschmidt and Nick Ahmed.
The D-Backs jumped on Lester early. Pollock tripled in the first inning and Goldschmidt provided the hit to bring Pollock home.
Ahmed slammed a home run off Lester in the bottom of the 5th inning to tie the game, 2-2. That home run was only the second home run of Ahmed’s career.
Neither team would strike again until the game went into extras. In the 10th inning, Chicago scored two runs courtesy of some timely hitting by Kris Bryant and Starlin Castro.
The D-Backs would respond in the bottom of the frame when Cubs closer Hector Rondon came in to close out the game. Goldschmidt hit his team leading 13th home run of the season to tie the game at 4. Rondon’s blown save was his third of the season.
Following the heroics of Goldschmidt, Ahmed roped a base hit to left field to orchestrate a walk-off winner in the 13th inning for Arizona and take the opening game, 5-4.
Pollock went 4-6 while Goldschmidt batted 3-5 with 3 RBI’s and Ahmed finished 3-6 with 2 RBI’s.
Saturday: Game Two
Arizona jumped out early again when Yasmany Tomas drove home Mark Trumbo and Goldschmidt to give the D-Backs a two run advantage.
The Cubs responded in the 5th inning when De La Rosa hit Bryant with the bases loaded to bring home a run for the visitors. Rizzo cranked a bases clearing double to left later in the inning to give Chicago the lead, 4-2.
David Peralta responded with a bases clearing double in the 5th inning to give the lead back to the D-Backs. A Tuffy Gosewisch home run in the 6th gave Arizona the insurance they needed to try and secure another game.
However, Jorge Soler delivered a two run double in the 8th to tie the game at six before Anthony Rizzo fired a three run shot to give Chicago the lead in the 9th.
The Cubs would hold on for the 9-6 victory.
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Sunday: Game Three
For the third consecutive game, Arizona scored in the first inning when Goldschmidt singled to bring home Ender Inciarte.
Chicago’s Miguel Montero wasted no time in providing the equalizer with a solo shot in the top of the 2nd inning.
The D-Backs countered with a three run 3rd inning. Starting pitcher, Jeremy Hellickson, hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run and Goldschmidt mustered up another huge home run to give Arizona a 4-1 lead.
Chris Coghlan of the Cubs slapped a two run homer into the seats to cut the lead down to one in the 5th inning.
From there, the Diamondback bullpen shut down Chicago to seal a 4-3 win and another series win. Goldschmidt went 2-3 with 3 RBI’s.
Overall, this was a series that did not disappoint. Arizona hosted a solid ballclub and proved they can compete with some of the best in the National League.
I don’t want to get too carried away but the momentum that the D-Backs have built could propel them into the conversation of competing for the top spot in the NL West Division.
Arizona will now travel to St. Louis to clash with the Cardinals for a three game series.