Cubs shut out Diamondbacks 7-0 as dugouts trade words
Arizona was blanked by Chicago at Chase Field on August 24, and the finale left both dugouts still sniping over a sign-stealing complaint as the Cubs come back to town.
Kelly's start goes for nothing in a Cubs shutout
Cubs0-7The Diamondbacks were shut out 7-0 by the Cubs at Chase Field on August 24, closing out a stretch that had otherwise gone their way — Arizona took two of three from Cincinnati earlier in the week. Merrill Kelly went 5.2 innings and allowed 5 hits, 3 earned runs and 3 walks while striking out 4, a line that would have kept the Diamondbacks in most games, but the offense never got on the board behind him.
The loss leaves Arizona 3-2 over its last five, with wins over Boston and Cincinnati wiped down by a pair of defeats sandwiched around them, including this one. In the NL Wild Card race, the Diamondbacks sit 2.0 games back with an elimination number of 20, two spots and two games behind San Diego for the final spot.
Flaherty and Berry trade words over sign-stealing complaint
@StoolBaseball reported that the Diamondbacks' dugout wasn't thrilled with Cubs third base coach Quinten Berry, who appeared to be stealing signs during the series, with Ryan Flaherty exchanging words over it from the Arizona side.
Barstool's Nicky Smokes weighed in on the same series, contrasting Kelly running "straight into the fire" with a teammate who "hides for cover," and said he'd "go to war with Keegs any day of the week" — the kind of side-taking that's followed Arizona through this stretch against Chicago.
Upcoming
Same two clubs, same ballpark: the Diamondbacks host the Cubs tonight, with Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.39 ERA) opposing Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.49 ERA). Pfaadt's last time out, against Boston on August 19, went 5.2 innings with 5 earned runs and 8 strikeouts without a decision. Holmes was tagged with the loss in his last start, on August 19 against the White Sox, allowing 1 earned run over 5.1 innings with 6 hits and 2 walks.
Chicago is favored to take the opener of this rematch, with the total reading middling — a number that fits a pitching matchup between two starters who've each been better than their last outing suggested, in a series that's already carried more heat than a 7-0 final usually does.