Chicago Cubs survive wild pitcher’s duel in 6-0 win vs D’backs

The Chicago Cubs open a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks as they look to continue their winning ways.

The Chicago Cubs (38-15)  took three out of four against the Los Angeles Dodgers and now welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks (24-33) to Wrigley Field.

Things were pretty uneventful for the first five and a half innings as both Archie Bradley (2-1, 4.94 ERA) and John Lackey (6-2, 2.88 ERA) were engaged in a pitchers duel. It was shaping up to be another game in which one or two runs was going to be enough to win the game.

The Cubs finally busted through in the sixth when Anthony Rizzo’s fly ball was misjudged by CF Chris Owings, resulting in a double and scoring Jason Heyward from first. That gave the Cubs a 1-0 and looked like it might be enough to win the game.

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Lackey started the seventh but after giving up a walk and a single with two outs, he was pulled for Adam Warren who got the final of the seventh to preserve the 1-0.

After Pedro Strop through a 1-2-3 8th inning, the Cubs came to bat looking to add to their lead, and that’s exactly what they did, thanks to some help from Diamondbacks defense.

After Heyward bounced out to start the inning, Kris Bryant was hit by a pitch and Rizzo singled but was called out at second trying to stretch it into a double. The play was reviewed and stood as an out.

The D’backs then intentionally walked Ben Zobrist bringing Addison Russell to the plate.

Then Mr. Clutch himself, Russell boinked a double scoring Bryant and Zobrist to give the Cubs a 3-0. Strangely, the D’backs then walked Miguel Montero, bringing Javier Baez (who had struck out 3 times today) to the plate.

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Baez then hit a line drive over center fielder Michael Bourns head scoring, Russell, and Montero. Baez then scored on a throwing error by the shortstop Chris Owings, and suddenly, the Cubs were up 6-0.

The wild inning would continue as Fowler got hit by a pitch but the Cubs did not add any more runs after that. Justin Grimm came in to finish the game in the ninth as the Cubs improved to a season-high 23 games above .500, at 38-15.

Game 2 of the series is tomorrow afternoon: Jason Hammel (6-1, 2.09 ERA) vs. Edwin Escobar (0-1, 18.90 ERA). First pitch is 1:20pm on WGN as the Cubs go for their 4th straight win.