PHOENIX (AP) — Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back homers, Kevin Gausman gave up just three hits over seven innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 on Monday night.
The Cubs moved to 5 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead. The Brewers were off Monday.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Conforto and Kelly hit their homers off reliever Taylor Clarke with two outs in the sixth, breaking open a tight game. Conforto's two-run shot to right field made it 4-0 and then Kelly — who played 4 1/2 seasons with the Diamondbacks — hurt his former team with a solo smash to left.
That was plenty of support for Gausman (2-1), who cruised through the D-backs' lineup, needing just 94 pitches to complete his seven innings. The right-hander gave up three hits and a walk while striking out six in his best outing for the Cubs since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second when Pedro Ramírez smacked a triple down the right-field line that scored Ian Happ. They pushed the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth when Seiya Suzuki's double off the left-field wall brought home Conforto.
Conforto reached base four times, hitting a single, double and homer while also drawing a walk. Happ and Ramírez both had two hits.
D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly (8-12) gave up three runs on five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
Arizona managed just five hits — all of them singles. Corbin Carroll stole two bases.
The D-backs send RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.39 ERA) on Tuesday against Cubs RHP Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.49).
___
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
