Cubs Recap: Addison Russell hammers a pair of homers in win vs D’backs

Cubs chase Godley early en route

The wind was howling in from center field, but that didn’t stop rookie shortstop Addison Russell who recorded his first career multi-home run game in the 14-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday afternoon.

Chicago opened up the series against their former 10th round draft pick, Zack Godley, who was included in the deal that brought Miguel Montero over from Arizona this past Winter. Godley issued multiple bases-loaded walks and would exit after just 3 2/3 innings after giving up six earned runs on four hits including six walks.

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Dexter Fowler worked the first walk of the contest during the first inning and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to give Jon Lester and the Cubs (76-57) a one-run lead. They finished the inning with two more runs coming across to score via a walk and sacrifice fly off the bat of David Ross.

Lester (9-10, 3.59 ERA) put in five innings of work, holding the visiting team to two earned runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He also scored twice after reaching on an error by Nick Ahmed and a walk.

Russell brought him around the bases with him on his second home run of the game — a two-run shot during the bottom half of the fourth which extended Chicago’s lead to 6-1.

Arizona (65-70) cut Lester’s lead down to four runs on an RBI double by Phil Gosselin in the fifth to score Ender Inciarte who stole his 16th base prior to the extra base knock.

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Recently acquired Austin Jackson plated his first RBI as a Cub on a sharp ground ball to right field with the bases loaded, driving in veteran catcher Ross from third.

Ross also had himself a two-bagger in the inning after Javier Baez was thrown out by Welington Castillo on his attempt to swipe second.

Despite being thrown out on his first stealing attempt of the season, Javier had himself a great day in the batter’s box. The 22-year-old infielder went 3-for-4 with two singles, a walk and a two-run homer that came during the eight-run fifth inning.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo had the biggest at-bat of the frame when he swatted his second career grand slam to right field which made it 12-2 before Baez went yard. He nearly had himself a solo bomb to center field, but the wind stopped it on the warning track early in the game.

Former starter Travis Wood entered the game in the ninth with a huge lead in his back pocket and allowed the first two batter’s of the inning to reach on singles. Thankfully, he was able to get things under control by retiring the final three D’backs of the game.

Today’s win sure does feel good knowing that Jake Arrieta will be on the mound tomorrow afternoon. In case you just so happened to forget, Arrieta pitched a no-hitter in his previous outing against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Next: Addison Russell maturing before our eyes