Conforto, Kelly Homer Back-to-Back as Cubs Blank D-backs 7-0
Kevin Gausman fired seven strong innings as Chicago pulled away with a sixth-inning power surge in Phoenix.
Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back home runs and Kevin Gausman gave up just three hits over seven innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 on Monday night.
The win kept Chicago's playoff push alive, with the Cubs sitting 5 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead. The Brewers were off Monday.
Conforto and Kelly connected off reliever Taylor Clarke with two outs in the sixth inning, breaking open a tight game. Conforto's two-run shot to right field made it 4-0, and Kelly — who spent 4 1/2 seasons with the Diamondbacks — followed with a solo homer to left off his former team.
That cushion was more than enough for Gausman (2-1), who needed just 94 pitches to complete seven innings. The right-hander allowed three hits and a walk while striking out six in his best start for the Cubs since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline.
Chicago had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Pedro Ramírez tripled down the right-field line to score Ian Happ. The Cubs pushed the lead to 2-0 in the fifth when Seiya Suzuki doubled off the left-field wall to bring home Conforto.
Conforto reached base four times, collecting a single, a double and a homer to go with a walk. Happ and Ramírez each had two hits.
Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (8-12) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings while striking out four. Arizona managed only five hits, all singles. Corbin Carroll stole two bases.
The Diamondbacks send right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.39 ERA) to the mound Tuesday against Cubs right-hander Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.49 ERA).
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
