CHICAGO — Carson Kelly’s two-run homer against his former team has given the Chicago Cubs an early lead over the Diamondbacks at a windy Wrigley Field.
The Cubs led, 2-1, as play entered the bottom of the sixth inning.
Kelly’s homer came on a 2-2 cutter from Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes. It was the fifth homer of the year already for Kelly, who played for the Diamondbacks from 2019-23.
Burnes has given up five hits with no walks and two strikeouts on 89 pitches.
The Diamondbacks got a run-scoring single from Corbin Carroll in the top of the fifth. They threatened to add more but left the bases loaded when Josh Naylor bounced out to second to end the inning.
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Coming up
Saturday, April 19: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-2, 4.64) vs. Cubs RHP Ben Brown (2-1, 5.09)
Sunday, April 20: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-1, 5.57) vs. Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 5.40).
Monday, April 21: Off
Tuesday, April 22: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (3-1, 3.04) vs. Rays TBA.
About the Cubs
The Diamondbacks opened the regular season against the Cubs in Phoenix, splitting the series 2-2. The final game of that series on March 30 saw the Diamondbacks rally from a 6-2 deficit with eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on their way to a 10-6 win. Chicago, 2-4 after that Diamondbacks series, is 10-5 since then and holds down first place in the NL Central with a Major League-leading 124 runs scored. … Former Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly has a platoon role with Miguel Amaya, and the two have provided plenty of offense. Kelly is batting .407 with a 1.538 OPS in 27 at-bats this season. He has four home runs and hit for the cycle earlier this season against the Athletics in Sacramento. Amaya is batting .283 and the pair has combined for 25 runs batted in. The Cubs have speed on their roster, and prior to games on April 17, led the majors in stolen bases with 29. Pete Crow-Armstrong is the team leader with seven.
— Jose Romero
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