Game Forty-Three – Cubs 3, Diamondbacks 4
WP – Jeremy Hellickson (2-3) LP – Jason Hammel (3-2) Save – Brad Ziegler (2)
Miguel Montero hit a solo shot in the second inning and Chris Coghlan smacked a two-run homer in the fifth but Jason Hammel made two too many mistakes to Paul Goldschmidt and the Cubs lost the finale to the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon.
Jason Hammel settled in after a rough three innings but by that time the Diamondbacks had built a 4-1 lead. Hammel left too many pitches up in the third inning. The Diamondbacks scored three runs on a Nick Ahmed triple, a Jeremy Hellickson sac fly and a Paul Goldschmidt two run homer to center. Hammel lasted seven innings and kept the Cubs in the game, but on getaway day the quality of the bats were not there and Jeremy Hellickson put together his second best outing of the season.
Jason Hammel allowed four runs, all earned, on five hits. Hammel issued one intentional walk and struck out nine on 105 pitches, 71 for strikes.
The Cubs managed only five hits in nine innings. And with the way the Cubs are currently constructed, if Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo do not contribute, the Cubs are not going to win that many games. Bryant and Rizzo were a combined 0-for-7 with a walk.
Miguel Montero (1-for-4 with a home run) tied the game at one in the second inning with a home run to left. And Chris Coghlan (1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI) cut the D-Backs lead to 4-3 in the fifth with a two-run shot to right. Jorge Soler (2-for-3 with a double and a run scored) had a very good day at the plate and Starlin Castro (1-for-4) collected the Cubs’ fifth hit in the ninth inning.
The Cubs had only one walk and did not make Jeremy Hellickson (93 pitches, 59 strikes, in 6 2/3 innings) and Arizona’s bullpen work (124 pitches in nine innings).
Joe Maddon and the coaching staff must figure out a way to get the team prepared to play on Sunday. The Cubs are now 2-6 on Sundays this season.
The Cubs finished a difficult road trip with a 3-3 record and could have won the three games they lost.
With Sunday’s loss, the Cubs slipped to 24-19 on the season.
The Cubs didn’t make Jeremy Hellickson break a sweat in the first inning. Hellickson sat down the Cubs in order on eight pitches. And the Diamondbacks came out swinging against Hammel.
Ender Inciarte blooped a single into left (0-2 pitch) to start the game. A wild pitch with Pollock at the plate allowed Inciarte to take second base. Hammel’s 1-1 offering to A.J. Pollock caught the knob of the bat. The ball bounced back to Hammel. After looking Inciarte back to second, Hammel tossed to first to get the out.
Jason Hammel pitched to Goldschmidt with first base open and it cost the Cubs again. Paul Goldschmidt ripped a 3-2 pitch back up the middle and into center. Inciarte scored, 1-0 Arizona. David Peralta struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch and Montero threw out Goldschmidt at second to end the inning. Hammel made 18 pitches, 11 for strikes, in the first inning.
The Diamondbacks had a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
Miguel Montero recorded the Cubs first hit in the game. Montero drove a 1-1 pitch out to left. The ball ended up in the stands and tied the game at one. Jorge Soler smoked a single to center. But Coghlan grounded into a 4-6 fielder’s choice and Hammel struck out swinging to end the inning. Hellickson needed only 27 pitches, 18 for strikes, to complete two innings.
Jason Hammel retired the side in order in the second … 28 pitches for Hammel after two innings, 18 for strikes.
And the game was tied at one after two innings.
The Cubs went 1-2-3 quickly in the third.
Nick Ahmed led off the third with a triple to left center. Hammel left one up in the zone and the light-hitting shortstop recorded his first triple of the year. Jeremy Hellickson pulled an elevated fastball into left center. Ahmed tagged and scored, 2-1 Diamondbacks. Inciarte singled to center (0-2 pitch) and stole second with Pollock at the plate. Hammel struck out Pollock swinging.
Paul Goldschmidt obliterated a 1-1 pitch. The ball sailed over the center field wall and ended up on top of the barrier. The Diamondbacks took a 4-1 lead on another run scoring hit from Goldschmidt. David Peralta lined a 2-2 pitch to Castro that he dropped. Aaron Hill flied out to right center to end the inning.
Arizona led 4-1 after three innings.
Jorge Soler led off the fifth with the Cubs down 4-1. Soler put together a very good at bat. Soler pulled a 3-2 pitch to deep left center. The ball hit on the track and bounced into the stands for a ground rule double.
Chris Coghlan pulled a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right. Coghlan’s seventh longball of the season made it a 4-3 game. Hammel struck out looking, Herrera hit a high chopper back to the mound and Fowler struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jason Hammel struck out Hellickson swinging for the first out in the fifth. Chris Coghlan made an excellent over the shoulder, running catch toward the left field wall and took away extra bases from Inciarte. A.J. Pollock pulled a 1-2 pitch toward third. The ball hit off Bryant’s wrist and ended up in left field. By the time Castro got to the ball, Pollock was almost to second base … and he slid in safe on the two-base error.
The Cubs finally took the bat out of Goldschmidt’s hands. Hammel intentionally walked him. With two on and two down, Hammel struck out David Peralta swinging (2-2 pitch) to end the inning.
The Diamondbacks led 4-3 after five innings.
And that ended up being the final score in what should thankfully be the Cubs last game at Chase Field (24-43 all-time at Chase Field, 1-5 in last six) until next season.
The Cubs return to Wrigley for Memorial Day and open a six-game homestand against the Nationals (1:20pm). Tsuyoshi Wada takes on Tanner Roark in the first of three with the Nationals.