Ron Matejko 9y

With Cubs coming home, it's so long, Paul Goldschmidt

PHOENIX -- The Chicago Cubs are glad to leave Arizona and return home if for no other reason than their pitchers won't have to face Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for a while.

Goldschmidt mashed Cubs pitching throughout the series, finishing 5-for-10 with two home runs, six RBIs, four walks, four runs and two stolen bases. His two-run home run during Arizona's three-run third inning proved to be the difference Sunday, as Arizona won 4-3 in the rubber match of the three-game series. He also had a game-tying, two-run home run in the 10th inning Friday after Chicago scored twice in the top of the inning. Arizona won that game in 13 innings.

"We were really not trying to pitch to him, so we had to take it to the next level and walk him," Cubs skipper Joe Maddon said of the fifth-inning intentional walk to Goldschmidt on Sunday. "Give him credit, he's a good baseball player. He drove in those runs. We were trying to stay away from him and did not do the job."

Chicago wrapped up its six-game road trip with a 3-3 record. Considering the offensive struggles in much of the series, Maddon said he'd take a .500 mark, even though there was the potential for more.

"Of course, at this point you get greedy," Maddon said of the chance to win four out of six entering Sunday. "We did play better than that but you do accept it at this moment. Coming out west, the time change, day game after a night game and another day game tomorrow. It isn't easy.

"We had a chance until the end. We did not. I have no complaints at all. None."

One Cub not as excited about returning home might be left fielder Chris Coghlan, who opened the trip with a two-home run game in San Diego and closed it with a two-run blast Sunday in Arizona.

Jorge Soler also performed well at the plate during the trip, adding two more hits Sunday to finish 8-for-25, good for a .320 batting average, including four doubles and three runs scored.

The Cubs open a six-game homestand Monday, which begins with a three-game set against the NL East-leading Washington Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.

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