Starting Lineups:

Arizona Diamondbacks (16-14):

1) Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS

2) Ildemaro Vargas (S) 2B

3) Corbin Carroll (L) RF

4) Adrian Del Castillo (L) DH

5) Gabriel Moreno (R) C

6) Jose Fernandez (R) 1B

7) Nolan Arenado (R) 3B

8) Alek Thomas (L) CF

9) Jorge Barrosa (S) LF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.14 ERA)

Chicago Cubs (19-12):

1) Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

2) Moisés Ballesteros (L) DH

3) Alex Bregman (R) 3B

4) Ian Happ (S) LF

5) Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

6) Michael Busch (L) 1B

7) Carson Kelly (R) C

8) Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

9) Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Starting Pitcher: RHP Colin Rea (3-1, 4.61 ERA)

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL — In the series opener between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs, the Cubs scraped by the D-Backs 6-5 thanks to a strong offensive day at the plate.

The Cubs would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first against D-Backs starter Zac Gallen.

Nico Hoerner led off the bottom of the first with a double, and Moises Ballestero drew a walk to put two on, with no one out. Alex Bregman reached first on a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners with one gone. Ian Happ drew a walk to load the bases.

Two batters later, Michael Busch would plate two with an RBI single through the left side to put the Cubs up 2-0. Carson Kelly would hit an RBI single on a missed fly ball to center field to add to the lead 3-0, Chicago.

Hoerner would exit the game in the second inning after experiencing left-sided neck tightness while running the bases. He would be replaced by Matt Shaw.

The Diamondbacks would score in the top of the third inning off of Cubs’ starter Colin Rea.

Jorge Barrosa would lead off the top of the third inning with a double, and Geraldo Perdomo would push Barrosa to third with a groundout. Ildemaro Vargas would plate Barrosa with an RBI single through the right side to cut into the lead, 3-1 Chicago.

The Cubs would strike again in the bottom of the fourth inning for three runs and chased Gallen out of the game.

Kelly led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single back up the middle. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a single and made it to second base, while Kelly advanced to third to put two in scoring position with no one out.

Dansby Swanson would keep the line moving with an RBI single to left field, to put the Cubs ahead 4-1. Crow-Armstrong would score on a wild pitch to put Chicago up 5-1. Two batters later, Bregman would plate Swanson with an RBI double to make it 6-1 Cubs.

The Diamondbacks would score four runs in the top of the sixth, three of which came off a home run.

Jose Fernandez led off the top of the sixth with a roped single to left field. Pinch hitter Tim Tawa drew a one-out walk. Barrosa would bunt for an RBI double, cutting into the lead 6-2. Perdomo plated three runs with a three-run homer to left field, to make it 6-5 Chicago.

Colin Rea – photo courtesy of the Chicago Tribune

The Good: The Cubs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, and the lineup picked each other up — they had two three-run innings in the bottom of the first and the bottom of the fourth. Additionally, the Cubs had four different hitters drive in a run, and as a team, had 8 hits.

The Bad/The Ugly: Cub’s Reliever Ryan Rolison did not have his best day, giving up three runs when he was inserted in the fifth inning, making it a closer game than it needed to be.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner