Three out of four ain't bad! The Diamondbacks had never swept the Cubs in a four game series, and they still haven't. Torey went with an opener today, instead of starting Pfaadt as planned. It was Mantiply and McGough for the first two innings. Pfaadt came in to pitch the third and immediately started serving up meatballs. We were down by 4 at the end of the third. The Cubs scored once again in the fifth. We fought back and scored one in both the fifth and sixth innings, and the final score was 5 - 2. Pfaadt recovered after his disastrous third inning, but the damage had already been done. Hendricks was mostly business and did not make it easy today. Seby Zavala did the opposite of what he was advertised as in his first outing for us. His defense was not the best today. However, he did have a couple of hits and an RBI.

It was three up and three down in the first for the Diamondbacks. Carroll and Peterson both struck out. Then Pham lined out to Swanson. It was a first pitch triple for the leadoff hitter Morel for the Cubs, on a ball that got by Carroll and went to the wall. Hoerner hit into a fielder's choice to Mantiply, who threw to home and cut down Morel. Suzuki hit a ground rule double down the right field line. The replay showed that ground rule double may have actually been foul, but Torey chose not to challenge. Hoerner, who had stolen second base on Zavala's fumble trying to throw to second, scored. Bellinger flied out to Thomas, Swanson grounded out to Perdomo, and it was 1- 0 Cubs at the end of the first.

It was another three up and three down in the second for the Diamondbacks. Happ popped out to Peterson to start the second, and Mantiply was relieved by McGough who walked Gomes. That walk was actually a strikeout, but thanks to HP Umpire Mark Wegner it wasn't. Zavala's defensive troubles began in the second. He couldn't get a block on what was called a wild pitch for McGough, right after that blown strike three call. He did manage to settle down getting Candelario to strike out, and Madrigal flied out. Still 1 - 0 Cubs.

The Diamondbacks' third inning went by quickly with fly outs from Rivera, Perdomo, and Carroll. Zavala singled to left field but was stranded. Pfaadt came in to start the third and gave up a home run to Morel on just his second pitch. Hoerner flied out, Suzuki struck out, and it looked good for about a minute. Bellinger then homered to center, followed by a homer to center by Swanson. Happ lined out to 2B Peterson, but it was 4-0 at the end of the third.

The Diamondbacks couldn't get much going again in the top of the fourth. Peterson grounded out to 1B. Pham singled to LF. Walker flied out to LF, and Thomas grounded out to the SS Swanson. Gomes grounded out to Perdomo to start the fourth for the Cubs. Candelario popped out to Peterson. Madrigal singled to left. Zavala tried to throw out Madrigal as he stole second, but his throw went into center and he was able to take third. Morel struck out stranding Madrigal on third to end the inning. Cubs up 4 - 0 at the end of the fourth.

Gurriel hit a ground rule double down the left field line to open the fifth inning. Rivera punched a single to Suzuki in right, and Gurriel advanced to third. Zavala singled to center for our first RBI, and Gurriel scored. Perdomo flied out to Happ, who doubled up Rivera on a TOOTBLAN at second. Dang it! Carroll popped out to third to end the inning. Hoerner lead off the fifth for the Cubs with an infield single to Perdomo, who didn't even attempt a throw to first. Suzuki popped out, and Bellinger flied out to Thomas in CF. After Hoerner stole second base, Dansby Swanson singled to Pham and Hoerner scored. Happ flied out to Perdomo to end the inning, but the Cubs had added one. Cubs 5 - 1.

Jace Peterson singled to CF to open the sixth inning. Pham doubled to LF and Peterson advanced to third. Walker popped out to Swanson. Thomas hit a sac-fly to CF, scoring Peterson from third. Gurriel walked and that was the end of Hendricks' day. Jose Cuas got Rivera to ground into a force out at second to end the inning. Cubs 5 - 2, and that was the end of the scoring in this game. The Cubs sent four batters to the plate in the sixth. Gomes struck out swinging on a 94 mph four-seamer. Tauchman walked, Madrigal flied out to Thomas, and Morel popped out to Perdomo.

Mark Leiter Jr. came out to pitch the seventh for the Cubs. Zavala lined out to 2B. Perdomo walked, but he was thrown out attempting to steal by Gomes. Carroll singled to LF, but the inning ended with a ground out to third by Peterson. The Cubs went three up and three down in the seventh. Hoerner flied out to Thomas. Suzuki grounded out to Pfaadt, and he struck Bellinger out on just three pitches. Cubs 5 - 2.

Pham grounded to third to start the eighth. Walker flied out to Swanson. Thomas hit a single to LF, but Gurriel flied out to LF to end the inning. The Cubs' Swanson singled to Pham to leadoff. Happ then flied out to Pham, and Gomes grounded into a double play to end the eighth. Cubs 5 - 2.

Pavin Smith, the whipping boy, batted for Rivera in the ninth and walked. Moreno then hit for Zavala, and lined out to CF. Perdomo and Carroll both struck out to end the game. The final score was Cubs 5 Diamondbacks 2.

The win probability curve never dipped into the Diamondbacks' territory today. It was all uphill after the first three innings for the Diamondbacks. Pfaadt did eventually settle down, but his nerves seemed to get the best of him during his first inning of work once again. The bullpen didn't have to work much today. Mantiply and McGough were the only ones used, and each of them threw only 13 pitches. The Diamondbacks exceeded my expectations in their series win with the Cubs. I'm trying to take this one in stride.

I'm originally from Chicago, and I prefer it when the orbit of these two teams don't exert a gravitational force in the standings on one another. It was much simpler that way for me. We'll see the Cubs again at home for three next weekend. We need to win at least one of those for the just in case season series tiebreaker. We'll take two or three if the Cubs want to oblige us.

The GDT was somewhat sparsely populated today, with 100 comments. Was there something else on? Jim had two Sedona Red comments today, but it was his comment about Zavala that was the COTD.

It's off to New York for four games with the Mets. Zach Davies takes the mound tomorrow at 4:10 MST.

Bells and whistles, by Jim

[Click to enlarge in new window, at Fangraphs.com]
Bacon: Yommy Pham: +7.4%
Mushrooms: Geraldo Perdomo, -20.2%
Baked beans: Pfaadt, -19.4%; Walker, -10.7%

As mentioned, it's off to New York for another four-game series starting tomorrow, this one against what's left of the Mets' bloated payroll. First pitch in the opener is 4:10 pm Arizona time, with Zach Davies taking the mound to Arizona. Thanks to Snake_Bitten for the guest recap!