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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker delivers a pitch to Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo during the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs catcher Alex Avila walks to first base after a bases loaded walk to score a run during the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker delivers a pitch during the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Chicago Cubs inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist scores on a passed ball during the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant connects on an RBI single during the second inning of a Major League Baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey delivers a pitch during the bottom of the second inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey releases the ball on a pitch during the bottom of the second inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey follows through on a pitch during the bottom of the second inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo practices between innings during a Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder J.D. Martinez takes swings in the batter's box during a Major League Baseball game against the Chicago Cubs inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Mascots depicting former Arizona Diamondbacks greats stage a race between innings during a Major League Baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber connects on a solo home run during the sixth inning of a Major League Baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber steps on home plate after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a Major League Baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Chicago Cubs fans in the outfield bleachers celebrate a solo home run hit by catcher Alex Avila (13) during the sixth inning of a Major League Baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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MLB: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (08.11.17)
Members of the Chicago Cubs celebrate on the field after their 8-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks inside Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh)
PHOENIX — Unlike the fictional explorer and teacher Indiana Jones, John Lackey embraces the presence of snakes, especially when they’re in the form of Diamondbacks on the baseball diamond.
Lackey struck out seven in 5.1 innings of work as the Cubs defeated Arizona 7-3 in the first of a three-game series at Chase Field between National League playoff hopefuls. The win improved Lackey’s career mark against Arizona to 5-0.
Chicago did not take long to get on the board, with two runs in the first inning off of Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker and both coming in to score without the benefit of a hit. After two hits and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, Alex Avila walked to force in the game’s first run. Catcher Chris Herrmann then committed a passed ball with Jason Heyward batting, allowing Ben Zobrist to score to double the lead.
Lackey made that lead stand up, holding the Diamondbacks scoreless for the first four innings. He now has recorded the victory in five consecutive starts dating back to July 18.
Arizona made a game of it in the fifth inning as they capitalized on Lackey’s only real mistake of the game. David Peralta hit a two-run home run into right-center field with two outs to cut the Cubs lead to 3-2.
Kyle Schwarber and Avila hit back-to-back solo home runs in the next half inning to restore the Cubs’ three-run lead in the sixth. Chicago added three runs in the eighth inning on RBI singles by Javier Baez, Ian Happ and John Jay, all off of Arizona reliever T.J. McFarland.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from today’s game, with all photos taken by Arizona-based photographer Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 15 pictures in total.