Flores helps Diamondbacks beat Cubs 8-3 for 5th straight win

By: Jose M. Romero, The Associated Press Posted: 12:15 AM CDT Saturday, Apr. 27, 2019 Last Modified: 1:22 AM CDT Saturday, Apr. 27, 2019

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PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling along quite nicely.

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PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling along quite nicely.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/04/2019 (2665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling along quite nicely.

Wilmer Flores and Adam Jones led the way Friday night.

Flores drove in three runs, helping Arizona beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 for its season-high fifth straight victory.

Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez, right, gestures skyward as he crosses the plate after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

Jones added three hits and two RBIs as Arizona won for the 10th time in 12 games overall. Nick Ahmed hit a two-run triple in the Diamondbacks’ three-run fifth inning.

“Once we were aggressive, we just put the ball in play and found some holes,” Jones said. “We’ve just been grinding. Passing the baton and trying to have good at-bats. It’s just a matter of playing together and pushing the guy in front of you.”

Kris Bryant and Javier Baez homered for Chicago, and Albert Almora Jr. matched a career-high with four hits. But the Cubs were unable to overcome another shaky performance by Kyle Hendricks, who was coming off his best start of the season.

The Diamondbacks jumped on Hendricks (1-4) for three runs in the first. Jones singled in Ketel Marte, and Flores drove in two more when he rolled a single through the right side with two out.

Bryant responded with a two-run shot in the third for his first homer since opening day. Bryant’s two-out drive left the park in a hurry, hitting a digital sign board in left-centre on the fly.

Baez’s team-leading ninth homer trimmed Arizona’s lead to 4-3 in the fourth. But the Diamondbacks broke it open in the fifth on Flores’ RBI single and Ahmed’s first triple of the season.

“That was the big thing. Two outs, nobody on, three runs in that fifth. That hurt,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “That falls under the category of that’s baseball, especially in a place like this. It is kind of a ‘Coors (Field) light.'”

Six of Arizona’s runs came with two out.

“Those are add-on runs, tack-on runs,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We didn’t shut down. It shines a little brighter when there’s two outs.”

Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. Matt Andriese pitched three innings for his first save since Aug. 28, 2017, with Tampa Bay.

“We’ve got some really hot guys right now,” Ray said of his run support. “It’s fun to watch.”

Hendricks (1-4) was charged with seven runs and 10 hits in five innings. The righty struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings in his previous start against the Diamondbacks on April 19.

Hendricks has pitched more than five innings only once in five starts this season.

“Guys were making good plays behind me. We were battling back,” Hendricks said. “I just couldn’t go out and get a shutdown inning. Not good overall. I didn’t give us a chance to win at all.”

WORTH NOTING

David Peralta had two hits for Arizona, including his 13th double. Peralta passed Paul Goldschmidt in 2014 for the most doubles in franchise history in the opening month of the season.

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta (6) and Ildemaro Vargas (15) celebrate following a 8-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs during a baseball game, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

PITCHING IN

The Cubs promoted right-hander Dillon Maples from Triple-A Iowa. Maples takes the roster spot of left-hander Randy Rosario, who was sent down after Thursday’s game.

Maples worked one inning against the Diamondbacks, walking the first two batters before striking out the side.

GRAND OPENING

Maddon said his Chicago restaurant, Maddon’s Post, will open on May 14. The Wrigleyville restaurant will serve Polish and Italian cuisine.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: LHP Mike Montgomery (back injury) is scheduled for a rehab start for Iowa on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (1-3, 5.96 ERA) gets the ball on Saturday for his sixth start of the season. He pitched five innings of three-run ball in a 6-0 loss to the Diamondbacks in his previous start last Saturday.

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (1-1, 6.67 ERA) has a streak of three straight no-decisions.

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