Last season, the Cubs struggled all year in one-run ball games.
Today, the Cubs’ fortune seemed to be on their side as they sneaked past the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-5.
Tyler Colvin’s two-run home run and three RBI helped the Cubs get their third win on the season.
The Cubs struck first in the second inning when Darwin Barney scored on a Miguel Montero throwing error and Starlin Castro followed with an RBI double to score Koyie Hill.
Andrew Cashner, who was making his pitching debut as a starter, gave up a solo home run to Ryan Roberts for his only blemish in the game.
In the bottom of the third, the Cubs separated themselves from the Diamondbacks briefly with a two-run shot by Tyler Colvin. Colvin was starting for Carlos Pena at first, who is nursing a sore thumb injury.
Andrew Cashner was pitching brilliantly through 5.1, giving up just one run on two hits, but he was quickly pulled in the sixth when he was feeling discomfort in his right shoulder.
Reports are Cashner has shoulder stiffness, and there has not been any immediate word on whether or not he will make his next start.
It was unfortunate because Cashner had Arizona’s hitters off balance all day, but the Diamondbacks broke open against the bullpen that has been near perfect in the early stages of this season.
Jeff Samardzija relieved Cashner in the sixth, and he quietly retired the next two batters he faced.
Samardzija started the seventh inning by walking Miguel Montero.
Montero was out at second as Chris Young grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Samardzija walked Juan Miranda to place runners on first and second.
Marcos Mateo, who had an impressive spring training, gave up a single to Gerardo Parra to score Chris Young—that moved runners up to second and third.
James Russel relieved Mateo, who coughed up the lead as Willie Bloomquist singled to score Juan Miranda and Ryan Roberts.
The tie game would not last long, as the Cubs scored two in the bottom of the seventh on a Marlon Byrd double and a bases-loaded walk to Tyler Colvin put them up, 6-4.
The Diamondbacks made it interesting in the top of the ninth inning, as they closed the gap to 6-5 on a Xavier Nady ground-out to Starlin Castro, who made a magnificent play on a ball that deflected off of Sean Marshall.
Sean Marshall stopped the bleeding by striking out Willie Bloomquist to secure another Cubs victory, their third in a row.
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