 struck out eight in six innings in his best performance this season. The right-hander allowed two hits and walked four.David Peralta's leadoff drive to center in the sixth accounted for Arizona's only run of the game.Bote capped Chicago's five-run third with a massive three-run shot to left off Zack Godley (1-2). He added a two-run drive in the fifth against Matt Koch.Two innings later, with the Cubs leading 8-1, Bote was hit in the shoulder area with a high fastball from Koch, prompting both dugouts and bullpens to empty. The field was cleared after a short delay and play resumed without further incident.Godley lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his shortest start since August 2016. He was charged with five runs and four hits.Arizona turned to catcher Caleb Joseph to pitch the ninth inning, and he retired the Cubs in order.TRAINER'S ROOMDiamondbacks: Reliever T. J. McFarland (shoulder) is scheduled for a rehab appearance with Triple-A Reno on Monday. He could work two to three innings. ... First baseman Jake Lamb (quad strain) and catcher Alex Avila (quad strain) are progressing, manager Torey Lovullo said, with Avila slightly ahead of Lamb.`PEN PALSArizona's bullpen had not allowed an earned run in 24 innings before Bote went deep against Koch. It was the second-longest such streak in franchise history.CUBS ON TURFThe Cubs are playing their first series on artificial turf since September 19-20, 2017, when they played the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Arizona's Chase Field replaced its natural grass before this season.UP NEXTCubs: Jose Quintana (3-1, 3.21 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday. The left-hander is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.86 ERA in his last three starts. But he is 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.Diamondbacks: Right-hander Luke Weaver (2-1, 3.33 ERA) has a 1.53 ERA in his last three starts. He's 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
D-backs face Cubs looking for sixth straight win The Arizona Diamondbacks have done just about everything right during their current hot streak, and they were at it again in an 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.The Cubs will attempt to bounce back from a rare ineffective outing from a starting pitcher when the teams meet again in the second of a three-game series in Arizona on Saturday.Arizona had 11 hits -- including five extra-base hits, increasing their NL lead to in that category to 113 -- while winning their season-high fifth straight game and 10th in the last 12 on Friday. David Peralta had his 13th double, breaking Paul Goldschmidt's franchise record for doubles before May 1."I sense a tremendous energy that we start the game with, and it never dies off," said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, whose team jumped on Kyle Hendricks for three runs in the first inning for a lead they never lost. "They are invested for nine innings and can come back on any team against any type of bullpen."This team is extremely balanced. It's understanding what you have to do in that moment to help your team win a baseball game." Kris Bryant and Javier Baez homered, with Baez extending his hitting streak to five games, for the Cubs on Friday. Albert Almora Jr. tied a career high with four hits, three singles and a double.Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish (1-3, 5.96 ERA) will oppose Arizona right-hander Zack Godley (1-1, 6.67 ERA) on Saturday before the teams conclude their six-game season series Sunday.Darvish gave up three runs and five hits in five innings while striking out seven in a 6-0 loss to Arizona last Saturday. He has yet to complete six innings in any of his five starts but has been at his best in his two most recent starts, giving up five runs and striking out 15 in 10 2/3 innings."He just needs that one game where everything falls into place for him," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Then he'd have a chance to really take off. Velocity is up. His stuff is good. Everything is good. He's really fitting in. He's much more comfortable here."He just needs that one seminal moment to really catapult him. Probably could have left him in a little bit deeper in some of those (previous) situations. Part of it is I just wanted him to break into it slowly and get his confidence going. Right now he is ready to fly."If he's ready to go, I'm ready, too." Darvish brought swing-and-miss stuff against Arizona in previous seasons with Texas and the Dodgers, going 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA in four career starts. He has 45 strikeouts and five walks in 24 2/3 innings in those four appearances.He will be pitching on six days' rest because of an off day Monday.Godley did not face the Cubs in the previous series and is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA against them in four career appearances, all starts.He has one quality start among his five starts this season. He gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks in a no-decision at Pittsburgh on Monday, a 12-4 D-backs win."You bank every win you can," Lovullo said. "We are building a pretty good structure here. We know we are standing on a good foundation. We are not doing it by accident." --Field Level Media
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