Corbin, Goldschmidt lead Diamondbacks to win over Cubs

CHICAGO — Paul Goldschmidt homered and Patrick Corbin pitched seven strong innings to pick up his first win in seven weeks, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

A.J. Pollack had two hits and Jeff Mathis added a two-run double as Arizona won for the fourth time in its last five games at Wrigley Field.

Corbin (7-4) gave up just one run and six hits while striking out nine for his first win since June 5. He was 0-2 with a 3.98 ERA in seven starts since.

Goldschmidt’s homer was his 22nd on the season. He was 2 for 5 after going 1 for 12 with nine strikeouts in three games since the All-Star break. Goldschmidt came in with a .361 career average (48 for 133) against the Cubs, including a three-homer game at Wrigley Field last Aug. 3.

For the second time in four days, Chicago turned to position players to pitch at the end of a lopsided game. Backup catcher Victor Caratini threw one pitch to get the final out of the eighth. After giving up a lead-off single to Goldschmidt in the ninth, Caratini got David Peralta to hit into a double play. Anthony Rizzo then came on to get the final out of the inning in his first career appearance on the mound.

After playing five games in four days following the All-Star break, the Cubs turned to Luke Farrell for a spot start. It didn’t go well from the outset.

Farrell (3-4) allowed five runs on five hits in the first. Pollack opened the scoring by lining a one-out RBI single off Farrell’s left forearm and into center field, scoring Jon Jay from second base. Jake Lamb followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Ketel Marte then singled to drive in Pollack for a 3-0 lead. After Daniel Descalso singled, Mathis capped the big inning with a two-run double down the left-field line.

Goldschmidt’s homer in the second made it 6-0.

Farrell allowed six runs and six hits in 3.1 innings as his ERA jumped from 3.86 to 5.17.

The Cubs broke through against Corbin in the sixth on an RBI grounder by Rizzo, scoring Ian Happ who led off with a double.

Nick Ahmed drove in Arizona’s final run with a pinch-hit single in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: LHP T.J. McFarland (left neck tightness) was reinstated from the 10-day DL prior to the game. To make room on the active roster, RHP Silvino Bracho was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday night.

UP NEXT

RHP Clay Buchholz (2-1, 2.56 ERA) is expected to be activated from the 10-day DL to start for the D-Backs on Tuesday night. Buchholz (strained left oblique) made one rehab start for Single-A Visalia, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings. RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 3.99) pitches for the Cubs.