Cody Bellinger's HR helps Cubs take series from D-backs

[April 18, 2024]  Cody Bellinger homered to help the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix.
 
Mike Tauchman and Michael Busch each had two hits and an RBI, and Dansby Swanson had two hits and a run scored for Chicago, which has won four of five.  

Apr 17, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Drew Smyly (11) celebrates with catcher Yan Gomes (15) after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs starter Jordan Wicks allowed two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Hayden Wesneski (1-0) was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and blanked Arizona on one hit over four innings of relief in his season debut.

Ketel Marte and Joc Pederson homered for the second straight game for the Diamondbacks, who had won three of four.

Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (1-1) allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in seven innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter.

Marte, who hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the ninth on Tuesday before the Diamondbacks won 12-11 in 10 innings, hit the first pitch from Wicks over the wall in left for a 1-0 lead.

Pfaadt had retired nine straight batters when Nico Hoerner led off the fifth with a one-hopper to Suarez at third, but Suarez dropped the ball while making the transfer from his glove.

Tauchman then lined the next pitch over the head of Randal Grichuk in right, scoring Hoerner from first to tie it 1-1.

Yan Gomes then lined the next pitch into center to score Tauchman and give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

Tucker Barnhart doubled to center to lead off the bottom of the fifth, took third on a ground out and came home on a single by Marte to tie it 2-2.

Hoerner then made an error trying to turn two on a grounder by Corbin Carroll, ending the day for Wicks.

Bellinger blasted a solo home run with one out in the sixth to put Chicago back in front 3-2.

Swanson beat out an infield single with one out in the eighth, stole second and scored when Bellinger looped a single to left. The ball got far enough away from left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to allow Swanson to continue home and stretch the lead to 4-2.

After Christopher Morel was intentionally walked, Busch grounded a single up the middle to score Bellinger for a 5-2 lead.

Drew Smyly replaced Wesneski with one out in the ninth and gave up the home run to Pederson to make it 5-3.

--Field Level Media

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