Field Level Media
Jul 23, 2018
Patrick Corbin pitched seven strong innings and Paul Goldschmidt hit a home run as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the host Chicago Cubs 7-1 Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field.
Corbin (7-4) allowed one run on six hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out nine.
The left-hander won for the first time in eight starts, though he did have three quality starts of six or more innings and three or fewer runs allowed since his last victory June 5 at San Francisco.
Cubs right-hander Luke Farrell (3-4), making his second start of season, allowed six runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. Farrell walked two and struck out two.
The Diamondbacks scored five runs in the first, increasing their season total in that inning to 78, second only to Colorado's 82.
Leadoff batter John Jay was hit by a Farrell pitch. An out later, David Peralta grounded a single to right field. A.J. Pollock then lined a single to center on a ball that deflected off Farrell's glove, with Jay scoring from second and Peralta advancing to third.
Jake Lamb's sacrifice fly made it 2-0. After the runners advanced on a wild pitch, Ketel Marte lined a run-scoring single to center. Jeff Mathis then hit a two-run double to left that made it 5-0.
Goldschmidt homered with one out in the second, hitting the first pitch he saw from Farrell over the fence in right-center field, his 22nd of the season.
The Cubs finally scored in the sixth, as Ian Happ led off with a line-drive double to left field. He advanced on Jason Heyward's single to right and scored when Anthony Rizzo grounded into a fielder's choice.
The Diamondbacks added a run in the eighth. With Mathis on first and two outs, he advanced to second on a wild pitch by left-hander Randy Rosario and took third on a passed ball by Willson Contreras. Pinch hitter Nick Ahmed's single scored Mathis with the game's final run.
Cubs first baseman Rizzo pitched a third of an inning, getting the final out in the top of the ninth with Pollock flying out to center.
--Field Level Media