Diamondbacks comeback bid against the Cubs falls short in 9th

CHICAGO — David Bote hit a game-ending RBI single in the ninth inning, and the Chicago Cubs used a terrific performance by Tyler Chatwood to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Sunday.

Led by Chatwood’s six sparkling innings, Chicago carried a 1-0 lead into the ninth. But Jarrod Dyson hit a drive to right off Pedro Strop (1-1) with one out, tying it at 1.

The Cubs then got right to work against Archie Bradley (1-2) in the bottom half. Javier Báez led off with a double up the first base line and went to third when Adam Jones fumbled the ball in right.

After Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch, Bote hit a liner back up the middle for his fourth career game-ending hit.

Chatwood was hampered by control issues last season in his first year with Chicago, but he had no problems against the Diamondbacks. He threw 44 of his 71 pitches for strikes, and each of his two walks was erased by double plays.

Robbie Ray (0-2) was almost as good as Chatwood, allowing four hits in six innings in perhaps his best start so far this year. But he got into a little trouble in the sixth.

The left-hander hit Anthony Rizzo with two out, and Báez followed with a drive into the gap in right-center for an RBI triple. Ray then struck out Contreras looking, ending the inning.

MINOR MOVES

The Diamondbacks recalled right-hander Jimmie Sherfy from the Triple-A Reno. Sherfy had no record and a 1.65 ERA in 15 appearances with Arizona last year.

Sherfy replaced Taylor Clarke, who was sent down after an impressive performance in Saturday’s 6-0 victory. Clarke worked three innings and singled in the eighth to become the first pitcher with a save and a hit in his major league debut since saves became an official stat in 1969, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: 1B Christian Walker was out of the starting lineup because of a hip pointer. Walker got hurt on a play at the plate during Saturday’s win. He finished with a career-high four hits. “He’s OK,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I just made the decision to give him a rest based on how he was feeling and what I got from the medical team.”

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Zack Godley (1-1, 6.26 ERA) pitches Monday night in the opener of a four-game set at Pittsburgh. Godley allowed two runs in six-plus innings in a no-decision at Atlanta on Wednesday night. Joe Musgrove (1-1, 0.81 ERA) gets the ball for the Pirates.