Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back homers in a three-run sixth, Kevin Gausman threw seven scoreless innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 in Phoenix on Monday.
Conforto, who also doubled and singled, has homered in two straight games and in three of his past eight. The Cubs have 12 homers in the past four games.
Gausman (7-11) gave up three hits, all singles, and one walk while striking out six in his fourth start since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline.
The D-backs got only one runner past first base off Gausman, when Corbin Carroll walked with one out in the fourth and stole second and third with two outs. Geraldo Perdomo grounded out to end the inning.
Ryan Zeferjahn and Caleb Thielbar each threw a scoreless inning to complete Chicago’s sixth shutout win of the season.
Ian Happ and rookie Pedro Ramirez each had two hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who have won two straight after a three-game losing streak.
The Cubs have scored 26 consecutive runs over two games after giving up the first two runs in a 19-2 victory at Seattle on Sunday.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly (8-12) allowed three runs and five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
He was removed in a 2-0 game after Ramirez’s two-out single in the sixth, and Conforto blasted a 431-foot homer to right on reliever Taylor Clarke’s second pitch to push the lead to 4-0. Carson Kelly followed with a 392-foot shot to left.
The Cubs added two in the seventh. With one out, Michael Busch walked and Alex Bregman singled before Happ hit an RBI double and Nico Hoerner added a sacrifice fly.
The D-backs, who had won three of four, managed only five hits, all singles, and were shut out for the ninth time. They are 3-4 without injured second baseman Ketel Marte.
Happ singled and scored on Ramirez’s triple to open the scoring in the second, and Conforto came home on Seiya Suzuki’s double in the fifth to make it 2-0.
The Cubs have won all four games against Arizona this season.
–Field Level Media
