Diamondbacks Defeat Justin Steele, Cubs 6-4

With the Diamondbacks in the thick of a Wild Card chase, they knew they had to beat some quality pitchers to get into the postseason. Facing Justin Steele, who looked like the frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award coming into tonight's game, they connected for a pair of three-run home runs in a 6-4 win against the Chicago Cubs.

Arizona set the tone early in this game, as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit his 24th homer of the season in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. That energized the D-backs dugout and allowed them to play with a lead for the entire game.

"That was a great tone setter," said D-backs center fielder Alek Thomas. "We needed something like that, it happened early, and it was great."

That inning was built in large part due to Christian Walker, who drew a walk with a runner at third and two outs. Being tasked to be the team's biggest run producer, it can be difficult to lay the bat down and trust the guy behind you. Walker did just that and it led to a big moment for the team.

"It's a total team effort, it's a total commitment, a commitment to the process, that's something Christian Walker did very well today," said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. "He put the bat down on four consecutive balls and gave us a chance to hit a three-run home run, which we did. That to me speaks volumes about the trust, and how valuable that is, that the guy behind him is going to execute and get the job done. It's a big part of our culture here."

That was enough to allow rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt to settle in. Pfaadt blanked the Cubs for 5 1/3 innings on four hits, one walk, and six strikeouts, not allowing Chicago to advance beyond first base when on the mound to pick up his second win of the season. The rookie right-hander credits a change in pitch usage as what worked tonight.

"I think using the sinker more, using that instead of the changeup. It was huge and it opened up a lot for the slider. We were able to use that mix and keep attacking them."

The D-backs then proceeded to open up the game in the sixth against Steele. Walker led off the inning with a walk and Gabriel Moreno, who picked up his first career 4-hit game, extended the inning with a two-out single to right. That set up Thomas, who entered the at-bat 8-for-68 against left-handed pitchers on the season, in a big situation. Before the at-bat, hitting coach Joe Mather gave his center fielder some very important advice.

"Before that at-bat, Joe Mather said 'You're on the heater, so you're not going to get another heater early in the count. So be prepared for a slider.' Thankfully I got a slider and in a good spot."

Thomas got a first pitch slider in the middle of the strike zone and didn't miss, launching it over the right field wall that doubled the D-backs lead at the time. Despite struggling against lefties for much of the season, getting a home run against one of the best lefties in baseball was gratifying for the younger outfielder.

D-backs down Cubs 6-4 behind Brandon Pfaadt , with 3 run homers from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas https://t.co/VqmDvtp6JM #MLBFilmRoom via @MLB
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) September 16, 2023

The Cubs closed the gap in the top of the ninth with four runs. Lefty Kyle Nelson allowed two homers, one of them a two run shot to Seiya Suzuki, forcing closer Paul Sewald into the Game. Sewald gave up homer to Christopher Morel, but then got the final two outs to seal the victory.

With the Giants losing and the Reds winning tonight, the D-backs are tied with Cincinnati for the third Wild Card spot with just 13 games to play. Tomorrow they will send right-hander Zach Davies to the mound to face Kyle Hendricks, who held Arizona to two runs in 5 2/3 innings on Sunday. First pitch will be at 5:10 PM MST.