Game Recap: Offense stays hot as Cubs take series win against D-backs

David Banks - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Saturday, April 19 2025

CHICAGO - Who would've thought that nearly 25 games into the Chicago Cubs' (14-9) 2025 campaign, they would have the best offense in baseball? Well, not only is that the case as they entered Saturday, averaging an MLB-best 6.23 runs per game, but the Arizona Diamondbacks (12-9) are second on that list at 5.75 runs per game.

You saw what both offenses could do on Friday as they treated fans to an incredible game at Wrigley Field and made some history in the process. The Cubs would go on to win that game 13-11, setting things up for another potential series victory on Saturday. This was the exact opposite of how things went on Friday, as both offenses came out fast before going quiet the rest of the way.

Once again, the Cubs' offense set the tone from the jump, scoring six times in the first two innings while the bullpen made that stand up in the 6-2 victory. The Cubs needed their bullpen to come through, and they did, as Ben Brown didn't have his best stuff on the mound. Despite allowing just one run, which came on the Corbin Carroll leadoff homer to begin the game, Brown struggled with his command as he walked four and struck out six in four innings.

He also gave up three hits in those innings to Carroll, who was responsible for three of the team's four hits and reached base a fourth time in the loss. Had it not been for two massive innings pitch-wise to begin the game, Brown would've been in a position to earn the win, but it took him 100 pitches to get through four, which is why he was done early.

Zac Gallen, on the other hand, found a way to keep his pitch count down after a slow start and managed to give the Diamondbacks six innings on the mound. He was charged with six earned runs, all coming in the first two innings, before looking like the 2023 All-Star version of himself the rest of the way.

Not only did Carroll lead things off with a homer, but Arizona had a chance to break things open immediately as Geraldo Perdermo reached base on an error ahead of the Pavin Smith walk as the Diamondbacks put the first three runners on without an out. Brown managed to get out of that inning without further damage, but at nearly 35 pitches to get the job done, that would be an issue.

What better way to not make it an issue than having the Cubs' offense respond right from the start? All they needed to get their offense going was a leadoff walk from Ian Happ as he raced home on the Kyle Tucker triple to make this a 1-1 game. Two batters later, Michael Busch stayed hot as he delivered the go-ahead RBI single that put the Cubs in front 2-1. Dansby Swanson added another single later in that inning, only to have Gallen respond with two punchouts to keep things close.

It was more of the same for the Cubs in the bottom of the second as it was another leadoff walk to Miguel Amaya, getting things started. That was followed up by the Jon Berti single to put two men on base and no outs. With runners on the corners and the meat of the lineup coming to bat, Tucker picked up where he had left off in the first as he drove home Amaya with a fielder's choice to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

Then came the long ball for Chicago as Seiya Suzuki and Busch went back to back off a Gallen to close out a four-run second with the Cubs in front 6-1. All six RBIs came from the 2,3,4 hitters as the Cubs failed to score the rest of the way. Usually, that is a recipe for disaster when you look at how poorly the bullpen has pitched this season, but this was the one time where they did their part and deserve a ton of credit.

That all started with Caleb Theilbar, who came out to toss two scoreless innings before handing things over to Brad Keller to do the same with one scoreless frame. Then came Daniel Palencia, who looked as good as the Cubs have seen him at any point in his career, dominating the Diamondbacks hitters for two punchouts in the eighth.

Heading into the ninth, the Diamondbacks were on the verge of going five innings without a hit as the Cubs' bullpen held them hitless up to that point. With one out to go in the game, the Cubs' pen came close to shutting out the Diamondbacks the rest of the way, only to have Tim Tawa put an end to that with a long solo blast to pull Arizona within 6-2.

That was as close as things would get as Palencia got Perdermo to roll into a game-ending grounder as the Cubs picked up a 6-2 win. With the victory, the Cubs are guaranteed to win this series and improve to 4-2 against Arizona this season, giving them their first season series win against them since 2022.

Chicago will go for the sweep on Sunday when Jameson Taillon takes on Mitch Keller. Chicago had eight hits in the game, with Swanson and Busch leading the way with two.