|
 "You look at the numbers and the hits, but it is because the
at-bats are being worked so well," Maddon said. "We're not chasing
out of the zone. We're making pitchers come over the plate up and
down the lineup. It's been a combination of really well thought out
at-bats."
Anthony Rizzo had three hits, including a homer, and tied a career
high with six RBIs in the Cubs' 14-6 victory over the Arizona
Diamondbacks on Thursday at Chase Field.
Dexter Fowler and Addison Russell added two hits and two RBIs apiece
for Chicago (3-0).
Rizzo's two-run triple broke a 6-6 tie in a five-run fourth inning
as the Cubs overcame a three-run deficit to help free agent signee
right-hander John Lackey earn the victory.
Rizzo, who hit a three-run homer in a four-run ninth inning, reached
base five times. He finished a double short of the cycle, and he
walked and was hit by a pitch.
"He's really focused," Maddon said. "They all are. Really
businesslike approach to the game. We're normally pretty fun. They
were just really focused. I could see it in their faces. Love it.
They are coming ready to play now."
The Cubs might have lost a piece of their offense, however, when
left fielder Kyle Schwarber was forced to leave the game with a
sprained left ankle after colliding with center fielder Fowler while
going after an inside-the-park homer by Jean Segura.
Schwarber was down on the warning track for several minutes before
being carted off. X-rays on the ankle were negative, the Cubs said,
but an MRI exam is scheduled for Friday.
"It's really not a good thing to see your guys lying on the floor
like that," Maddon said. "It had bad things written all over it.
(Segura) hits the ball in the one spot we can't cover. You'd rather
see the ball go over the fence there."
Schwarber said he was concerned about both his ankle and left knee.
"I'm not going to be down in sprits," he said. "I'm going to wait
'til tomorrow and see what happens. It is tight and sore. What are
you going to do?"
Segura became the eighth player in major league history to hit a
leadoff homer in the first inning and have an inside-the-park homer
later in the same game.
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David Peralta had three extra-base hits and an RBI, and Jake Lamb
added two hits and three RBIs for Arizona (1-3). Segura has three
homers in four game.
Kris Bryant had three hits, and Rizzo, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist
each scored three times as the Cubs took advantage of two Arizona
errors and 10 walks.
"For me as manager and our coaching staff, it was embarrassing,"
Arizona's Chip Hale said. "That is the easiest way to put it."
Lackey (1-0) gave up eight hits and six runs in six innings while
striking out four and walking one.
Arizona starter Rubby De La Rosa (0-1) gave up seven runs, six
earned, in 3 1/3 innings. He surrendered leads of 3-0, 4-2 and 6-4
as the D-backs scored in each of the first three innings against
Lackey.
Diamondbacks starters have given up 23 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings
this season (10.02 ERA).
"Maybe there is too much stress, too much anxiety on them," Hale
said. "Their minds aren't free enough to work. It was a tough game
to watch for everybody."
NOTES: Cubs RHP John Lackey hit ninth in the batting order Thursday,
the first game the Cubs played without a DH this season. Manager Joe
Maddon batted his pitchers eighth 145 times in 162 games last
season. ... Arizona INF/CF Chris Owings, a right-handed hitter, made
his third start in four games in center field, two against righties.
OF Socrates Brito, a left-handed hitter, made his only start against
a righty. "It is not a platoon," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. ...
The 1-2 finishers in the NL Cy Young race last year are not
scheduled to meet in this four-game series because of the Cubs' off
day Wednesday. Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke will start Saturday,
and Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta is set to start Sunday.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
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