Diamondbacks shine in desert
PHOENIX – These Arizona Diamondbacks are no desert mirage, and the Chicago Cubs are on the brink of despair once again.
Rookie Chris Young hit a three-run homer and Stephen Drew tripled in two more in an 8-4 victory Thursday night that put the Diamondbacks ahead 2-0 in the best-of-5 N.L. division series.
Unless they turn it around at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will make it 99 years and counting without a World Series title. The Billy Goat Curse would still reign.
Three years removed from a 111-loss season, the young Diamondbacks are one victory from the N.L. championship series. They can complete a sweep Saturday in Chicago, where they’ll send Livan Hernandez to the mound against Rich Hill.
Eric Byrnes had an RBI triple for the Diamondbacks, the first team since the 1906 White Sox to have a league’s best record and worst batting average.
They won again with timely hitting, solid starting pitching, defense and a strong bullpen.
Doug Davis gave up a two-run homer to Geovany Soto in the second, then settled in for three scoreless innings. The Arizona left-hander, acquired in the trade that sent Johnny Estrada to Milwaukee last off-season, allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings overall.
Davis also had an RBI sacrifice bunt. He left to a standing ovation, at least from the Arizona portion of a crowd that included a large share of Chicago fans.
However, reliever Juan Cruz promptly gave up a two-run double to pinch-hitter Daryle Ward, with both runs charged to Davis.
The Cubs’ lefty starter, Ted Lilly, fared worse. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits.
Santo enjoys postseason
Ron Santo has been walking around Phoenix with a big smile.
It’s easy to understand why. His beloved Cubs are in the playoffs, and the New York Mets aren’t, thanks to a spectacular September collapse.
“I’m very happy about it,” said Santo, the Cubs’ radio analyst who loathes almost everything about New York, especially Shea Stadium and the Mets.
Santo has another, perhaps more important, reason to be happy. Despite struggling with diabetes, heart disease and cancer, he’s healthy enough to work the Cubs’ N.L. playoff series against the Diamondbacks.