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Diamondbacks 2, Cubs 4

The Cubs took advantage of two mistakes by Tyler Skaggs, and the D-backs struggled against Chris Rusin. That is basically the reason why, combined with the Dodgers' mauling of the Blue Jays, we are now in second-place.

Christian Petersen

Tyler Skaggs gave us another one of those borderline "quality starts": exactly six innings, exactly three earned runs allowed. He was fine when he was ahead of hitters, but the few Cubs who showed patience were able to profit, clubbing a solo homer in the second, and a two-run shot in the fifth. He scattered seven hits, but walked none, and struck out six, with some particularly nice curveballs when the Cubs got over aggressive. However, the offense were unable to take advantage of the Cubs' spot starter Chris Rusin - maybe we'd have been better off facing Matt Garza, as we managed only two hits (both by Didi Gregorius) over five-plus innings.

The Diamondbacks did get on the board in the sixth, on a sacrifice fly by Martin Prado, and an RBI single off the bat of Paul Goldschmidt. However, they wasted a big chance to tie the game up in the seventh, getting the bases loaded with one out, before Adam Eaton and Eric Chavez left them that way. They also stranded the tying run at third in the eighth, and then went down relatively meekly in the ninth, though Didi Gregorius did get his third hit of the night, before Adam Eaton, representing the tying run, grounded out to drop Arizona out of the NL West lead.

The same two teams face off again at Chase Field tomorrow, with Tyler Wood taking on Patrick Corbin.