Bote homers twice as Cubs beat Diamondbacks 9-1

PHOENIX (AP) — David Bote homered twice and drove in five runs, leading Yu Darvish and the Chicago Cubs to a 9-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

Anthony Rizzo also connected for the Cubs, who won for the fourth time in six games. Rizzo finished with three hits and scored three times.

Darvish (2-3) struck out eight in six innings in his best performance this season. The right-hander allowed two hits and walked four.

David Peralta’s leadoff drive to center in the sixth accounted for Arizona’s only run of the game.

Bote capped Chicago’s five-run third with a massive three-run shot to left off Zack Godley (1-2). He added a two-run drive in the fifth against Matt Koch.

Two innings later, with the Cubs leading 8-1, Bote was hit in the shoulder area with a high fastball from Koch, prompting both dugouts and bullpens to empty. The field was cleared after a short delay and play resumed without further incident.

Godley lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his shortest start since August 2016. He was charged with five runs and four hits.

Arizona turned to catcher Caleb Joseph to pitch the ninth inning, and he retired the Cubs in order.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Reliever T.J. McFarland (shoulder) is scheduled for a rehab appearance with Triple-A Reno on Monday. He could work two to three innings. … First baseman Jake Lamb (quad strain) and catcher Alex Avila (quad strain) are progressing, manager Torey Lovullo said, with Avila slightly ahead of Lamb.

‘PEN PALS

Arizona’s bullpen had not allowed an earned run in 24 innings before Bote went deep against Koch. It was the second-longest such streak in franchise history.

CUBS ON TURF

The Cubs are playing their first series on artificial turf since September 19-20, 2017, when they played the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Arizona’s Chase Field replaced its natural grass before this season.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Jose Quintana (3-1, 3.21 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday. The left-hander is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.86 ERA in his last three starts. But he is 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks: Right-hander Luke Weaver (2-1, 3.33 ERA) has a 1.53 ERA in his last three starts. He’s 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.