Arizona Diamondbacks take close win over Cubs to close series

Don’t call it a comeback, Chicago. Paul Goldschmidt homers three times to beat out the Chicago Cubs in an offensive battle.

Despite more than two hours over multiple rain delays, the Diamondbacks took their second victory from the Cubs in a 10-8 victory backed by power-hitting.

In both a power-hitting and a clutch performance, Paul Goldschmidt hit three home runs, including a three-run shot in the first inning. He followed it with a two-run shot in the fifth inning. Both came off of Cubs’ starter Jose Quintana, followed by a solo shot to take the lead in the ninth.

It was Goldschmidt’s 12th career multi-home run game, but the only three-homer game he’s ever had.  Goldschmidt has hit 25 homers this season.

Following Zack Godley’s shutout performance, Zack Greinke took the mound in an attempt to earn his 14th win this season. Greinke remains 5-0 in his last seven starts, as Jake Barrett earned the win.

However, this win didn’t come easy.

After Greinke pitched seven innings in each of his last two starts, he was pulled in the seventh after giving up a leadoff single.

Willson Contreras had himself a day batting against Greinke, a feat not many batters can say they have accomplished.

Contreras hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second and followed it up with a three-run shot in the sixth.

Javy Baez also continued his success against Greinke. Baez was batting .500 against the Diamondbacks’ ace heading into Thursday’s game, adding a triple and a single off Greinke.

Quintana also gave up a solo home run to Brandon Drury in the first inning. In his second loss with the Cubs, Quintana did not return to the mound for the sixth inning.

David Hernandez made his debut as he returned to the Diamondbacks bullpen at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, Hernandez failed to retire the pinch-hitting Ben Zobrist, putting two runners on.

Neither bullpen could produce a shut out performance. Archie Bradley gave up a two-run single to Contreras in the seventh, in his 3-for-4, six RBI day.

However, the Diamondbacks rallied, loading the bases with no outs for Jake Lamb to earn a two-run single and retake the lead for Arizona in the eighth.

But, Barrett allowed the Cubs to tie the game.

After the third rain delay and Goldschmidt’s go-ahead homer, J.D. Martinez welcomed his sixth home run as a Diamondback to extend the lead to 10.

The Cubs were unable to rally back. The Diamondbacks won the series and will hold onto their half-game lead over the Colorado Rockies.

The Diamondbacks head to San Francisco next to take on the Giants in a weekend series.