Arizona Slam, Cubs Snakebit Late

The script was in place for the streaking Cubs to hit six wins in a row. Ace Jeff Samardzija was on the mound and the Cubs scored three first inning runs in response to the Diamondbacks one in the top of the frame. The North Siders loaded the bases thanks to a lead off double by David DeJesus, Starlin Castro getting hit by a pitch, and Anthony Rizzo earning a walk. Alfonso Soriano ensured one run with a sac fly before Nate Schierholtz doubled in Castro. Welington Castillo rounded out the small ball scoring with a RBI ground out.

Samardzija worked around jams in the second and fifth innings, including a bad call by the first base umpire that should have been the second out. On the play manager Dale Sveum would get tossed by home plate ump Joe West. Otherwise, The Shark cruised until the seventh. The Cubs righty walked a pair before making way to James Russell. The lefty, who has been a consistent presence in the pen, proceeded to issue a walk of his own before Jason Kubel cleared the bases with a three run double. It was a textbook example of how walks will kill you and the Cubs were now down 3-4.

Jun 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam homer against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Schierholtz responded right away with a lead off solo shot in the bottom of the seventh, but Carlos Marmol found a way to spoil things again in the eighth. A pair of walks and a ground rule double loaded the bases ahead of Paul Goldschmidt, who launched a grand slam to left center to put Arizona back ahead 8-4. The visitors picked on new Cub Zach Putnam for four more runs in the ninth and a once promising game ended with an ugly 12-4 scoreline in favor of the Snakes.

Walks were the number one suspect in this loss, with The Shark allowing four and Marmol allowing three in just 1/3 of an inning of work. The Cubs staff issued eight free passes in all, with six of them coming in to score.