Chicago CubsChicago Cubs vs. Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks Pick Center

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Cubs seek second series win over D-backs The Cubs cooled off the hottest team in the National League by beating Arizona on Saturday, and Chicago will attempt to win its second series from the Diamondbacks in 10 days when the teams meet for the last time this season on Sunday.David Bote had his first career two-homer game, including a 469-footer, in a 9-1 Chicago victory Saturday.Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana (3-1, 3.21 ERA) will go for his fourth straight victory in the series finale Sunday.The Cubs took two of three from Arizona in Wrigley Field last weekend. They have been the only team able to do much recent damage against the Diamondbacks, who have won 10 of 13. The Cubs have won eight of 11.Luke Weaver (2-1, 3.33 ERA) will start for Arizona, looking for his third consecutive win.Chicago had nine extra-base hits Saturday. Anthony Rizzo collected a homer and two doubles and Kyle Schwarber had two doubles as the offense continued its strong early-season showing.The Cubs' staff has been keeping up, as the team is allowing an average of just 2.3 runs over the past 16 games."We've been playing pretty much the same game on the field from Day 1 in Texas until now," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Our record could be substantially better had we just pitched a little better early. Not even a lot better. Just a little bit. Finally our pitching has settled in like we thought, and we are still playing the same game, so it has been kind of fun to watch." Quintana has been on top of his game recently, going 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in his past three starts. He had 25 strikeouts and three walks in 21 innings during those outings."He's pounding the strike zone like he normally does, but he's utilizing all of his pitches better," Maddon said. "The curveball has become more pertinent, and so has the changeup. That's been the difference from my vantage point. He's pitched more rather than trying to overpower people. Been fun to watch. He's been good. Real good." One ominous note, though, is Quintana's career record against Arizona: 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA in three career starts.Weaver has given up only three runs total in his past three starts covering 17 2/3 innings, with 24 strikeouts and two walks. In his most recent outing, he allowed one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings during a 2-1 victory at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He fanned seven and walked one.Weaver averages 5.17 strikeouts per walk, which would rank as the sixth-best ratio in the NL if he had pitched one more inning to rank among the qualifiers."I see a very confident, comfortable player that is letting his game play out the way it should every single start," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "He is executing game plans with exceptional stuff."I say it all the time, a lot of horsepower but behind the horsepower are secondary pitches that blend. He is an uncomfortable at-bat, and he is growing day by day." Weaver is 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.--Field Level Media

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