Eugenio Suárez hits 2 HRs to continue a hot start to the season, D-backs top the Cubs 8-1

PHOENIX Eugenio Suarez hit a pair of two-run homers, Merrill Kelly threw 5 1/3 solid innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 8-1 on Friday night.

Arizona's Pavin Smith and Alek Thomas each had three hits, including two doubles apiece.

Geraldo Perdomo and Josh Naylor hit RBI singles.

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Suarez hit both of his homers off Cubs right-hander Jameson Tallion (0-1), who gave up six runs over 4 1/3 innings.

The third baseman connected for a two-run shot in the second and again in the fourth, blasting both balls to roughly the same area of the left field stands.

He also had a solo homer on opening day Thursday.

Suarez nearly went deep again in the fifth, hitting a towering fly ball to the warning track that was caught by Ian Happ.

He finished with four RBIs.

The 33-year-old's hot start at the plate follows a torrid second half in 2024, when he hit .307 with 20 homers over 65 games following the All-Star break.

Kelly (1-0) gave up just one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings.

He walked four and struck out one.

Chicago managed just three hits and scored its only run on Pete Crow-Armstong's RBI single in the second.

Arizona's Shelby Miller threw two scoreless innings in his return to the club, including striking out the side in the eighth.

He was a starting pitcher for the organization from 2016 to 2018.

The D-backs won despite three errors in the field.

Suarez's second homer pushed the D-backs' lead to 4-1, giving Arizona's pitching staff a little cushion.

Suarez has three homers over the first two games of the season, tying a franchise record set by Luis Gonzalez in 2001.

The D-backs send RHP Brandon Pfaadt to the mound on Saturday night in the third of a four-game series.

The Cubs counter with LHP Shota Imanaga (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Arizona sports The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBAs Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury.

The Indoor Football Leagues Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tours highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.

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