Postgame Recap (8/2/17) – D-backs 3, Cubs 0: Godley Dominates Cubs, Jake Lamb Does the Rest

In one of his best performances of the year, Zack Godley made the Cubs look ordinary. He allowed only two runners to get into scoring position but was never in a situation he couldn’t get out of. He was in control from the moment he walked onto the mound until he threw his last pitch in the top of the 6th inning.

Once Godley was pulled — he left for a pinch-hitter in the top of the 7th inning, after throwing 96 pitches — the bullpen kept the domination train going. Andrew Chafin, Archie Bradley and Fernando Rodney each pitched one inning and they didn’t allow a single baserunner. It was a shut-down effort.

On offense, the Diamondbacks only had one more hit — four total — than the Cubs. Jake Arrieta was on the hill and he pitched a very good game.

Heading into the 6th inning, Arrieta had allowed the D-backs only one hit. That ended when David Peralta singled with one out. The next batter, A.J. Pollock, reached on a throwing error by Addison Russell, moving Peralta to second base. Jake Lamb came to bat next and lined a double down the right field line, scoring Peralta and Pollock, giving the D-backs a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the 8th inning, with the Cubs new pitching acquisition, Justin Willson, in the game, Jake Lamb came through once again. This time he lined a double to the opposite field, where left fielder Kyle Schwarber had difficulty corralling the ball. David Peralta, who walked to lead off the inning, came around to score the D-backs third and final run.

Stats that matter

• Godley was stellar – 6.0 IP, 0R, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K
• The bullpen pulled their weight in this one – 3.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K
• Jake Lamb is so darn good – 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 2B

Bottom line

This was a great team effort. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous when Torey Lovullo decided to pull Godley and not allow him to pitch the 7th. And I still think Godley should’ve pitched in the 7th, but it worked out this time. Beating a team as good as the Cubs and a pitcher, in Jake Arrieta, who pitched as well as he did, was something this team can build upon. If the D-backs were looking for a game to help get them back on track, this may well have been it.

On deck

The D-backs close out the series in the Windy City with a matinee game. Gametime on Thursday is 11:20 pm MT. Zack Greinke will take the hill against Jose Quintana.