Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a game-tying two-run homer and Josh Naylor doubled in the go-ahead run, all in an eight-run eighth inning, to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 10-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson homered for the Cubs, who received five scoreless innings from left-hander Matthew Boyd but could not hold a 3-0 lead after six innings. The teams split their four-game series.
Boyd gave up four singles and three walks, and he stranded two runners in the second and fourth innings in his Cubs debut after signing a two-year, $29 million free agent contract in the offseason.
Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll walked to open Arizona’s eighth inning, knocking out reliever Caleb Thielbar, before Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run double off Eli Morgan (0-1), and Gurriel tied the game on a 416-foot homer to left-center.
Gabriel Moreno singled and scored on Naylor’s double to deep center for a 7-6 lead, before Eugenio Suarez was intentionally walked. Naylor and Suarez pulled off a double-steal before pinch-hitter Ryne Nelson — a pitcher — grounded a single through the drawn-in infield for his first career hit and RBI as Naylor scored.
Suarez was thrown out at home on the play, but Nelson took second on the throw and scored on Thomas’ single to make it 9-6. Carroll then doubled in Thomas as the Diamondbacks sent 12 batters to the plate.
Nelson entered the game because Arizona manager Torey Lovullo had moved leadoff hitter Ketel Marte, the designated hitter, to second base in the seventh inning and placed the pitcher in the seventh spot in the order.
Justin Martinez (1-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the win.
Tucker’s three-run homer in the eighth inning off reliever Joe Mantiply extended the Cubs’ lead to 6-2.
Miguel Amaya singled and Ian Happ beat out a bunt single to open the eighth inning for the Cubs, before Suzuki reached on a fielder’s choice, leaving runners on the corners. He originally was ruled out for a double play but was called safe after a review.
Tucker followed with a 366-foot homer inside the right field foul pole, his second homer in as many days after being acquired in an offseason trade from Houston.
Swanson and Suzuki had two hits apiece for the Cubs, who will play in the third of their four opening days when they meet the Athletics in Sacramento on Monday night. Their home opener is Friday against San Diego.
Gurriel, Perdomo, Moreno, Naylor and Thomas had two hits apiece for Arizona, which will send Corbin Burnes to the mound for his first start against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
