Ryne Nelson struck out a career-high nine batters in 5 2/3 innings to help the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks earn a 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of their three-game series on Friday afternoon.
Nelson (7-6) allowed one run on three hits and two walks for Arizona, which won for the fifth time in six games.
Gabriel Moreno had three hits with an RBI and scored twice, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte each had two hits and a run scored for the Diamondbacks. Randal Grichuk added two hits and an RBI.
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (2-4) allowed five runs and a season-high nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Nico Hoerner had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games for Chicago, which had won six of eight and eight of 11 entering the All-Star break.
After putting runners on the corners with no outs in the first and failing to capitalize, Arizona came through with three runs in the third.
Moreno singled up the middle with one out to score Alek Thomas from second and give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead.
Gurriel followed with an opposite-field single to right to load the bases. After a mound visit, Christian Walker hit the first pitch into left-center field for a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.
Arizona loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth before Grichuk delivered an RBI single to left to make it 4-0. Following a strikeout, Corbin Carroll hit a sacrifice fly to deep center for a 5-0 lead.
The Cubs had runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth when Kevin Ginkel replaced Nelson. Christopher Morel hit Ginkel’s first pitch up the middle for an RBI single that cut the lead to 5-1.
Chicago loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth on a leadoff double by Hoerner and back-to-back walks. Ryan Thompson replaced Justin Martinez and gave up a sacrifice fly to Ian Happ to cut it to 5-2 but avoided further damage.
Paul Sewald worked around two singles in the ninth to secure his 14th save.
–Field Level Media
