Diamondbacks Fall Short Against Cubs in Close Game

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, dropping their record to 1-2 as the regular season progresses. Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong made a decisive play, throwing out Josh Naylor at third base for the final out of the fourth inning after Naylor had doubled to start the frame.

Naylor, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, continued to impress with a single in the ninth inning that set the stage for a rally. However, it was Eugenio Suárez’s home run that allowed Naylor to cross the plate. Suárez, who has been a standout performer, achieved back-to-back two-run homers in Friday’s matchup against the Cubs and has now hit three home runs in the first three games of the season.

In the game on Friday, Suárez launched two home runs off Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, helping Arizona to an 8-1 victory. Taillon pitched 4 1/3 innings but allowed six runs, including Suárez’s powerful blasts in the second and fourth innings.

“It’s great to see the ball coming off the bat like that,” Suárez said. “I just try to stay patient and trust my preparation. We’re excited to keep this going.”

Merrill Kelly started the game on Friday, producing a solid performance over 5 1/3 innings, giving up just one run on three hits while walking four and striking out one. The Cubs’ lone run came from Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single in the second, which broke up what had been a strong outing from Kelly.

In addition to Suárez and Naylor’s efforts, Pavin Smith and Alek Thomas both contributed significantly, each posting three hits and two doubles. Despite committing three fielding errors, the D-backs maintain confidence as they look ahead to completing the series against the Cubs.

Arizona will have Brandon Pfaadt starting on Saturday night against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, looking to improve their standing in the series. With early challenges in the season, including a notable baserunning mistake by pinch runner Garrett Hampson during Saturday’s game, the team is focused on refining their performance. “We want to play smarter baseball,” manager Torey Lovullo stated. “Every game is a learning experience, and we’ll need to tighten up going forward.”

With one win and two outings behind them, the Diamondbacks are eager to secure consecutive victories in order to gain momentum early in the season. The competitive landscape of Major League Baseball requires not just talent but consistency, and the D-backs are navigating their way through these challenges with a fresh roster and renewed focus.