CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Daryle Ward belted a pinch-hit two-run
double in the eighth inning Sunday, leading the Chicago Cubs to
a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Reed Johnson and Derrek Lee homered for Chicago, which finished
off a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks in a rematch of the
2007 National League Division Series.
With the game tied at 4-4, Aramis Ramirez led off the eighth
with a single and stole second. Kosuke Fukudome reached on a
bunt single. After an intentional walk to Alfonso Soriano to
load the bases, Ward drilled a pitch from Tony Pena (0-1) into
right-center field for a two-run double.
Carlos Marmol (1-0) logged a perfect eighth and Kerry Wood threw
a scoreless ninth for his seventh save of the season.
Johnson tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh by blasting a
two-run homer to right field off Juan Cruz. The comeback helped
disguise some questionable managing by Lou Piniella.
Arizona took the lead in a three-run fifth that was aided by a
curious call by Piniella. With the game tied at 2-2 and runners
on first and second, Piniella ordered spot starter Sean
Gallagher to walk Chris Young.
Chad Fox relieved Gallagher and walked Conor Jackson and Justin
Upton to force in a pair of runs to give Arizona a 4-2 lead.
It was supposed to be a premier pitching matchup between Randy
Johnson and Carlos Zambrano, but both were scratched after a
lengthy rain delay. Johnson, who had a second back surgery in
as many years this offseason, was held out as a precaution.
Edgar Gonzalez got the start in place of Johnson and allowed two
runs and five hits in five innings. Meanwhile, Gallagher took
Zambrano's place and yielded four runs and five hits in 4 1/3
innings.
Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the first when Conor Jackson drilled
an RBI triple to center, plating Chris Young. Chicago answered
in the second when Mark DeRosa walked, and later scored on a
wild pitch.
Lee's 10th home run of the season gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead in
the third.
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