Game Recap: Diamondbacks top Cubs in extras

Kamil Krzaczynski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 11 hours ago

CHICAGO - On a cold and rainy Easter Sunday on the Northside of Chicago, the Chicago Cubs (14-10) were looking to complete the weekend sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks (13-9). Already with the season series victory under their belt, sweeping the Diamondbacks to kick off the Cubs' eight-game homestand at Wrigley Field would be a massive confidence builder, especially when you look at who looms next week.

Unlike Friday and Saturday, when the wind was blowing out, these are the weather conditions that every pitcher loves, as runs tend to be at a premium. You saw that throughout this game as the Cubs and Diamondbacks played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and needed to go to extras for a winner to be crowned. After each team scored a run in the 10th, the Diamondbacks delivered in the 11th as the Josh Naylor single went down as the game-winning hit in the Diamondbacks 3-2 11 inning win.

Whenever you have to endure a situation where you start a game and have to be sat down due to rain before coming in, most managers worry about the effectiveness of their starting pitcher. Neither Jameson Taillon nor Merrill Kelly gave their manager many issues, and although neither of them went deep, they did what they were expected to do.

Taillon continued his string of strong starts, giving the Cubs five innings of one-run, six-strikeout baseball to earn the no-decision. The same can be said for Kelly, who pitched into the sixth before being lifted after 5 2/3, allowing one run on two hits and striking out five. That run came in the Cubs' half of the first as their offense came out swinging for the third straight game.

It all started with a leadoff single from Ian Happ while the Kyle Tucker walk put a pair of runners on with two outs. Michael Busch cashed in two batters later with another RBI single as he drove home the game's first run to put the Cubs in front 1-0. Chicago was unable to add on from there, as those were the only two hits they would have off Kelly.

Had it not been for a lead-off walk to Tim Tawa to begin the third, Taillon would've been perfect as he retired nine of the first 10 hitters he faced. Then came the fourth, where Taillon ran into some trouble and saw the Diamondbacks tie the game. Pavin Smith picked up a one-out double to get the offense rolling before coming home on the Naylor single to tie things up. Naylor would advance to third on the Lourdes Gurriel double, but Taillon stood tall to strand both runners.

That was the theme for a large chunk of the game for the Diamondbacks as they picked up a pair of sixth-inning singles off Julian Merryweather, only to be turned aside. It took the Cubs six innings to put their next baserunner on base, with Busch leading off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. The Cubs also received an eighth-inning single from Jon Berti, but with neither of those runs coming in to score, this one would come down to extras as things remained 1-1.

In what was a battle of the bullpens from the sixth inning on, both teams were a bit short-handed when it came to arms, as this was going to come down to the success of Jordan Wicks in the late innings. After allowing three hits on seven pitches on Friday, things only got worse from there as Nico Hoerner dropped the Jose Herrera bunt attempt, allowing for the go-ahead run to score to put Arizona in front 2-1. Wicks gave up another hit in the 10th but did his job to keep things where they were, as the Cubs had a chance to tie things up or win it in the 10th.

Like Arizona, Chicago wasted no time scoring a run in extras as Hoerner delivered an infield single that allowed Dansby Swanson to score as things were back to even 2-2. Chicago could not add on from there, as another inning of extra baseball would be needed. Once again, the pressure would fall on Wicks as he would be used the rest of the way.

For the second time in as many innings, it was the Diamondbacks coming through, with Naylor connecting for the go-ahead and game-winning single to put the Diamondbacks back in front 3-2. Arizona added another single from Alek Thomas later in the inning, but like in the 10th; Wicks found a way to escape the jam to keep the Cubs within striking distance.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, their luck would run out in their half of the 11th. Shelby Miller induced a huge double play to start the inning before retiring Tucker to close the game and giving Arizona the 3-2 11-inning win.

The Cubs were held to four hits in the game, all four coming as singles, as wins are tough to come by when that happens. Chicago will enjoy the day off on Monday before welcoming the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.