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Jake Arrieta won consecutive starts for the first time since early April, Javier Baez and Ian Happ hit consecutive home runs in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 Sunday.
Kris Bryant put the Cubs ahead when he scored from second on a wild pitch from Zack Godley in the first inning on strike three to Victor Caratini. The reigning NL MVP added his 21st home run of the season in the ninth inning, reaching base for the 13th time in 15 plate appearances during the three-game series.
Chicago reopened a one-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central. Arizona, bidding for an NL wild-card berth, lost for the sixth time in eight games.
BOX SCORE: Cubs 7, Diamondbacks 2
Arrieta (12-8) allowed one run and three hits in six innings, striking out six and walking three. Coming off a 5-3 win over San Francisco, Arrieta had not won back-to-back starts since victories at St. Louis and Miami in his first two outings this season.
Godley (5-5) had three wild pitches and four walks in 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out eight. He struck out four in the first inning, the first Diamondbacks pitch to fan four in a frame since Oliver Perez in September 2014.
Paul Goldschmidt hit his 28th homer in the ninth.
Jon Jay hit an RBI double in the second, but David Peralta cut the gap with a sacrifice fly in the fifth after a pair of walks. Baez’s three-run homer off Jake Barrett, a drive into the second deck in left, put the Cubs head 5-1. Happ, pinch hitting for Carl Edwards Jr., homered three pitches later.
– Associated Press
Cubs take 6-1 lead
The Cubs broke the game open in the eighth inning off reliever Jake Barrett. After left-handed reliever Jorge De La Rosa gave up a lead-off single to Victor Caratini, Barrett came in and induced a ground-ball out from Albert Amora Jr. Jason Heyward was walked intentionally to set up Barrett to pitch to right-handed batter Javier Baez, but Baez foiled those plans by drilling a 1-2 pitch into the left field stands to give Chicago a 5-1 lead.
Pinch-hitter Ian Happ followed with a homer to give the Cubs a 6-1 lead.
Arizona has just three hits through seven innings, all of them coming from third baseman Jake Lamb.
Godley departs as Cubs cling to lead
Right-hander Zack Godley gave up just two runs in 5 2/3 innings, giving the Diamondbacks another solid outing despite departing with the Cubs leading 2-1 in the sixth.
Godley was both dominant and a little erratic. Perhaps the only hard-hit ball of the day against him was Jon Jay’s RBI double to left in the second inning. But Godley also uncorked three wild pitches, walked four batters and hit another one.
He left with runners on first and second in the sixth, giving way to reliever Andrew Chafin, who got Jay to bounce to second to end the inning.
The Diamondbacks have continued to miss out on scoring opportunities, going 0 for 5 so far with men in scoring position. Jake Lamb led off the fourth with a double but was stranded, and the Diamondbacks had second and third with one out in the sixth but Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta worked out of the jam.
Cubs, Arrieta own early lead
The Cubs scored a run in each of the first two innings off Zack Godley while right-hander Jake Arrieta has tossed three scoreless innings, and the Cubs lead 2-0 over the Diamondbacks after 3 1/2 innings on Sunday afternoon at Chase field.
The Cubs’ first run of the day scored in unusual fashion. They had runners on first and second when Godley fired a breaking ball in the dirt that Victor Caratini swung at and missed.
The pitch got away from Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta, and Kris Bryant, who was running from second on the full-count pitch, rounded third and kept going. Godley slipped in the follow-through to his delivery and tumbled to the ground, and by the time he got to his feet and realized Bryant was trying to score, he got to the plate a split-second too late.
Caratini reached first on the strikeout/wild pitch, and Godley finished the inning with four strikeouts – just the second time in club history (Oliver Perez, 2014) a Diamondbacks pitcher had accomplished the feat.
The Cubs added a run in the second when Jon Jay delivered a two-out, two-strike RBI double to left to drive home Javier Baez.
Chafin chips chomper after chewing gum too hard
Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin may have suffered a first when it comes to professional sports injuries: He broke a crown because he was chewing his gum too hard.
In last Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chafin gave up a two-out double to Enrique Hernandez in the ninth inning. That’s when he snapped, literally.
“Well, I just gave up a double so I was a little bitter so I probably chomped my gum a little harder than normal,” Chafin said. “It was a tooth I had a root canal on and fillings and then we put a crown on top of it so once you grind it all the way down and put a crown on it there ain’t much there. It’s like a little stir stick straw thing holding my tooth together.”
Chafin promptly put the broken tooth into his back pocket. Distracted, he walked the next two hitters before finally getting Kyle Farmer to ground out to end the inning.
“I went back in the dugout and smiled and everybody said, ‘What happened?’ ” Chafin said.
Chafin paid a visit to the dentist the next day but the incident only reinforced his reputation among teammates that he’s a bit of a goofball.
“They said, ‘You’re a hillbilly, teeth falling out and all that stuff,’ ” Chafin said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s about right.’ ”
The moral of the story?
“Don’t give up doubles,” Chafin said.
Rotation set
Manager Torey Lovullo said the Diamondbacks’ rotation is set through Thursday’s game at Houston so the earliest Robbie Ray could get back on the mound for Arizona is Friday at Minnesota.
Ray threw a simulated game on Saturday and Lovullo said the club hadn’t decided what will be the next step in his rehabilitation.
Crowd noise
Lovullo on the Dodgers and Cubs fans that have invaded Chase Field the last week:
“We know it’s a diverse group,” he said. “I wouldn’t say they’re completely cheering for the Arizona Diamondbacks. … For the first part of this series I could only hear the Cub fans. But (Saturday) when we did something special the Diamondbacks fans were there. We felt the energy and heard the cheers of the Arizona Diamondbacks fans. We really enjoyed that.”
Short hops
Lovullo said outfielder Yasmany Tomas, on the disabled list with a groin injury, “looked very good” running the bases and taking swings against Ray in the simulated game and could be playing in games soon. … Reliever Randall Delgado (elbow) is throwing from 120 feet but Lovullo said there’s no timetable set for his return to game action.
Sunday’s game
When: 1:10 p.m.
Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).
Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (5-4, 2.94) vs. Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (11-8, 3.83).
TV/Radio: FSAZ, FSAZ+/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).
Godley gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Dodgers on Tuesday, his third consecutive quality start. … He faced the Cubs last week on Aug. 2 at Wrigley Field and threw six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out five. … Godley is holding opponents to a .222 average with runners in scoring position. … Arrieta has been on a roll since the start of July, logging a 2.18 ERA in seven starts spanning 45 1/3 innings. … He gave up three runs (two earned) in a start against the Giants at AT&T Park on Monday. … He matched up against Godley on Aug. 2 and threw well, giving up two runs (one earned) in seven innings but took the loss.
Sunday’s lineup
Gregor Blanco gets the start in center field Sunday.
Coming up
Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (13-5, 3.14) vs. Astros RHP Collin McHugh (0-1, 5.32).
Tuesday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Anthony Banda (1-2, 4.60) vs. Astros RHP Brad Peacock (10-1, 3.07).
Wednesday: At Houston, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (6-6, 3.76) vs. Astros RHP Charlie Morton (9-5, 3.83).
READ THE STORY: Lovullo sticking with the process despite missteps
Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin bounced back from a rough outing against the Cubs earlier this month.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about Patrick Corbin’s outing in a 6-2 win over the Cubs on Saturday.
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Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker discusses his struggles in the first two innings of Friday’s home loss to the Cubs. Bob McManaman/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses his team’s 8-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday. Bob McManaman/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo speaks to the media following his team’s loss to the Dodgers.
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Diamondbacks starter Anthony Banda speaks to the media following his outing against the Dodgers.
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Dan Bickley and Scott Bordow discuss Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke’s performance in the game against the Dodgers Wednesday night.
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Zack Greinke discusses the mistakes he made in the seventh inning of the Diamondbacks’ loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday. Andrew Vailliencourt/azcentral sports
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Manager Torey Lovullo discusses the Diamondbacks’ “tough” loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday at Chase Field. Andrew Vailliencourt/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley talks about the emotions involved in defending home field against the Dodgers on Tuesday at Chase Field. Richard Morin/azcentral sports
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Doug Haller and Mark Faller discuss Barry Bonds and the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb discusses his grand slam in the seventh inning to lead his team to a win over the Dodgers on Tuesday. Richard Morin/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s win over the Dodgers on Tuesday at Chase Field. Richard Morin/azcentral sports
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about the Diamondbacks’ 6-3 loss to the Giants on Sunday, which ended their 10-game road trip with a 5-5 record.
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Anthony Banda talks about how it feels to win his first game in the big leagues.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was impressed with Anthony Banda’s ability to make adjustments during his outing against the Giants on Friday night.
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Arizona Senator John McCain joins the Shot Clock to talk Arizona sports.
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Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt talks about his three-homer game on Thursday afternoon against the Cubs.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s 10-8 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field.
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Third baseman Jake Lamb talks about the Diamondbacks’ ability to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about Zack Godley’s strong six innings and Jake Lamb’s two run-scoring doubles in a win over the Cubs.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s defensive miscues and infielder Daniel Descalso’s relief appearance.
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Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin says he made too many mistakes against the Cubs on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and J.J. Hensley discuss the changes with the Diamondbacks.
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo talks about his team’s 3-2 loss on Sunday and Chris Owings’ fractured finger.
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Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker talks about the mistakes he made in a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray talks about what he remembers from Friday night, when he was struck on the head by a line drive in the second inning.
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Patrick Corbin tosses 6 2/3 scoreless innings vs. Cubs
Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ win over Cubs
Taijuan Walker on early struggles in loss
Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ opening loss to Cubs
Torey Lovullo on his team’s loss to the Dodgers
Anthony Banda on his rough outing against the Dodgers
Shot Clock: Concerned about D-Backs’ Greinke?
Zack Greinke laments his final inning in loss to Dodgers
Torey Lovullo after D-Backs’ loss to Dodgers
Archie Bradley after win: ‘This is our home field’
Shot Clock: Opinion changing on Bonds in Hall?
Jake Lamb on his grand slam to beat Dodgers
Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ ‘pretty special’ win over Dodgers
Torey Lovullo on disappointing finish to D-Backs’ trip
Anthony Banda on his first big-league victory
Torey Lovullo talks about Anthony Banda’s win vs. Giants
McCain’s stadium advice, best AZ sports moment
Paul Goldschmidt after three-homer game vs. Cubs
Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ wild win over Cubs
Jake Lamb on D-Backs’ bounce-back win over Cubs
Torey Lovullo on Godley’s performance, Lamb’s clutch hits
Torey Lovullo on miscues, Descalso’s pitching in 16-4 loss to Cubs
Patrick Corbin on rough outing vs. Cubs
Shot Clock: Who’s at shortstop for D-Backs?
Torey Lovullo on loss to Cardinals, injury to Owings
Taijuan Walker on his mistakes vs. Cardinals
Robbie Ray talks about the line drive that hit him
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