CHICAGO — Gabriel Moreno had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run and Ryne Nelson pitched five-plus solid innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Nelson (7-6) struck out nine batters and allowed just three hits as Arizona won for the seventh time in 10 games. Reliever Ryan Thompson escaped a bases-load, no-out jam in the eighth inning allowing one run and Paul Sewald pitched the ninth inning for his 14th save.
“I’m trying to keep it just one outing at a time or one day at a time. … I feel like keeping that level-headed mindset, even when I’m out there pitching, it’s one pitch at time and trying to be present,” Nelson said. “I think that mindset has really helped me a lot.”
Christian Walker singled to drive in Moreno and Ketel Marte to cap a three-run third inning off Cubs starter Justin Steele (2-4). Moreno singled in the first run. Randal Grichuk and Corbin Carroll also drove in a run for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks' streak may dictate whether the defending National League champions will be either buyers or sellers at the July 30 trade deadline.
Steele allowed five runs on nine hits before he was pulled after 4 2/3 innings. A strength of Chicago’s pitching staff, Steele hadn’t allowed more than three runs in a game over his previous nine starts, a stretch that dated to May 22.
“We’re just good hitters, you know, and I think we have good game planning,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “So what it is exactly I don’t know. I know that they go out there with a really good idea of how to attack each pitcher and it certainly worked today against Steele.”
A Nico Hoerner double preceded two consecutive walks thrown by Justin Martinez that loaded the Cubs’ bases with no outs in the eighth inning. Thompson gave up a sacrifice fly to Ian Happ before getting out of the inning.
“I have no problem with the way the intensity of the game picked up and we had to kind of sit on it for a little while. That got us right back into a rhythm. You know, I have no problem with that,” Lovullo said. “The boys went out there and executed.”
Christopher Morel drove in Michael Busch on a single to center field in the sixth inning for the Cubs' other run.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: OF Mike Tauchman (groin) was activated from the 10-day injured list. He grounded as a pinch-hitter and played two innings in center field. … OF Alexander Canario was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. … LHP Jordan Wicks (oblique) was placed on the 60-day injured list. … RHP Jesus Tinoco was called up from Triple-A and threw two scoreless innings.
Diamondbacks: LHP Jordan Montgomery (right knee inflammation) threw a simulated game on Thursday and is on track to return from the injured list next week when the Diamondbacks play the Kansas City Royals, Lovullo said, according to The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. ... Lovullo also said RHP Merrill Kelly (right shoulder strain) and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (left lat strain) will throw bullpens on Saturday and each could have another bullpen session before facing hitters.
UP NEXT
The Diamondbacks will start RHP Zac Gallen (6-5, 3.87 ERA). The Cubs have enlisted RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-7, 6.78 ERA) to start Saturday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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