Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (Simulated Game 35): Cubs 6, D-Backs 0 – Second Straight Shutout Seals Series Sweep

The Chicago Cubs (23-12) show no signs of slowing down as they continue to pile up early season wins. Sunday they jumped on the Arizona Diamondbacks (12-22) quickly to complete a four-game sweep that has moved them into first place, via MLB The Show 20.

Anthony Rizzo gave his team the lead with a solo homer off of Luke Weaver in the top of the 1st. Javy Báez singled and came around to score on a Kyle Schwarber double to increase the lead to 2-0 in the 3rd.

Tyler Chatwood kept the D-Backs off the board, but had a hard time putting hitters away and ran up a high pitch count. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 5th inning, having gone four shutout innings with just two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. That frame was when the Cubs put the game on ice.

Kris Bryant doubled and Rizzo walked to put two on with one out for Báez. Javy singled to left, but David Peralta fired home to nail KB at the plate. Luckily, Schwarber was there to pick up for Bryant’s mistake on the bases, launching a mammoth three-run homer to the upper deck in right to blow the game open.

Ian Happ added a run-scoring double in the 7th inning to increase the lead to 6-0. Alec Mills and Rowan Wick kept the home team scoreless for the rest of the game to complete the shutout victory.

Notes: The Cubs have posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time all season. Manager David Ross said Chatwood’s spot in the rotation is solid despite his short outing … The Cubs wore their 1980’s road throwback uniforms on Sunday, while the Diamondbacks wore their 1990’s home uniforms … The Cubs have surged into first place in the NL Central and are now a game ahead of the second-place Cincinnati Reds and 3.5-games ahead of the third-place Milwaukee Brewers.

Key Players:

Schwarber – 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Happ – 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI
Rizzo – 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 R, HR, RBI
Báez – 2-for-5, 2 R
Locastro – 2-for-4
Peralta – 1-for-3, BB

Winning Pitcher – Mills (3-1)
Losing Pitcher – Weaver (1-4)
Save – None
Home Runs – Rizzo (8), Schwarber (4)

Sunday Standings:

Cubs – 23-12
Reds – 21-12
Brewers – 19-15
Cardinals – 15-20
Pirates – 11-23