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Bolsinger, D-Backs earn split with Cubs

Apr 25, 2014 - 1:26 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Bolsinger threw 6 2/3 innings for his first major league win and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Thursday to earn a split of their four-game series.

Bolsinger (1-1) struck out seven, walked two and gave up one unearned run when his left fielder couldn't come up with a tough catch.

The 26-year-old righty lost his first major league start last Saturday after giving up seven runs -- six earned -- in four innings of an 8-6 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

"It's his third appearance, so I think that he's a lot more confident," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of Bolsinger. "He did what he had to do. He came out and executed like he has down in the minor leagues and that was big for us."

Bolsinger got his first career RBI against the Cubs on a single.

"We didn't do a whole lot against him but it's not like we didn't see him," said Cubs manager Rick Renteria. "We just didn't hit him."

Miguel Montero had two hits and two RBI for the Diamondbacks, who won the last two games of the series to go 3-4 on a seven-game road trip. Arizona spoiled Wrigley Field's 100th anniversary celebration on Wednesday by scoring five runs in the ninth inning for a 7-5 win.

Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer in this one for the Cubs, who went 3-4 on a seven-game homestand. Edwin Jackson (1-2) took the loss in seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.

Gerardo Parra led off the game with a single and scored on Montero's two-out double for an early Diamondbacks lead.

Emilio Bonifacio stretched a single into a double leading off the bottom of the first for Chicago -- he slid around a tag, and the safe call was upheld after a Diamondbacks challenge. Bonifacio then scored when Roger Kieschnick missed Rizzo's bloop hit to left field for an error.

But the Diamondbacks scored two runs with no outs in the second inning to re- take the lead for good.

Cliff Pennington drew a leadoff walk and scored on Tony Campana's double to the left-field corner and Bolsinger followed with an RBI single through the left side to make it 3-1.

Jose Veras replaced Jackson to start the eighth inning and gave up a leadoff walk to Parra, who went to second on Martin Prado's groundout and scored on Paul Goldschmidt's double. Montero followed with an RBI single to make it 5-1 Arizona.

Rizzo's third homer of the season came against Oliver Perez in the bottom of the eighth, but Addison Reed threw a perfect ninth for Arizona to pick up his fifth save.

Game Notes

The Cubs start a six-game road trip Friday in Milwaukee ... The Diamondbacks begin a six-game homestand Friday against Philadelphia.