Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll homered in a three-run third inning and the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks held on for a 3-0 win against the Chicago Cubs in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday evening. Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (7-5) navigated through five shutout innings to get the win. Gallen, who came in with an 0-1 record and 9.00 ERA in three July starts, .allowed just three hits and struck out four -- but walked a career-high-tying six batters. Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez and Ryan Thompson followed with perfect innings before Paul Sewald pitched the ninth for his 15th save for Arizona, which has won six of seven. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (2-8) allowed three runs and three hits in five innings, though two of the hits left the yard. He struck out two and walked three. Hendricks was coming off seven shutout innings in a 5-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 12. Miguel Amaya had two of the four hits for Chicago, which has dropped four of its past five. Hendricks had allowed one hit and two walks through 4 1/3 innings when Thomas went the other way and the ball dropped into the basket just above the left field fence for a solo home run and a 1-0 Diamondbacks lead. Geraldo Perdomo followed with a walk before Carroll lifted a two-strike changeup into the seats in right-center field for a 3-0 lead. It was the sixth home run of the season for Carroll, who hit 25 last season en route to winning National League Rookie of the Year. The Cubs had runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth after Nico Hoerner walked on four pitches and Michael Busch hit a ground-rule double into the ivy-covered wall in left. Gallen bounced back to strike out Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ before issuing his sixth walk to Christopher Morel to load the bases. He escaped the inning by getting Mike Tauchman to ground out. Chicago went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. --Field Level Media
Jul 20, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (5) celebrates with shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports