Seiya Suzuki Strikes Out as Cubs Beat Dbacks 8-4
seiya suzuki struck out on a 94 mph fastball low and away as the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 on March 30, 2025. The game at Wrigley Field turned on early contact, a second-inning Arizona homer, and Chicago's later scoring run against Merrill Kelly and Matt Boyd.
Moreno's 427-Foot Drive
Gabriel Moreno gave Arizona its biggest swing of the afternoon in the second inning, when he hit his first home run of the year. The ball traveled 427 feet with an exit velocity of 105, and it left little doubt once it cleared the bleachers.
The wind had already set the tone before first pitch at 11:20. It was blowing out toward right center at 21 mph and gusting to 33 mph, with the temperature at 55 degrees, humidity at 54%, and a chance of rain.
Kelly, Boyd, and the Outfield
Merrill Kelly worked through a sequence that included Carson Kelly singling past a diving Marte into center field-right field, then PCA doubling to center field to move Carson Kelly to third. Perdomo later doubled down the left field line on a ball hit 99 mph off the bat, and Corbin Carroll ended the frame with a ground ball to Hoerner at second base.
That chain left Arizona needing clean innings from Kelly and a steadier answer against Chicago's lineup, but the Cubs kept producing enough contact to stay ahead. Boyd's side of the matchup helped Chicago absorb the early damage and turn the game into an 8-4 result instead of a tighter finish.
Wrigley Field Wind
Kelly's day carried a sharper edge because he had thrown 5 scoreless innings against the Cubs on March 30 of the previous year, and the recap also noted that he had not had a feel for his changeup this year. Against that backdrop, Arizona's second-inning homer looked like a brief opening rather than a pivot point.
For Chicago, the better read is simple: at Wrigley Field, with the wind pushing out and the Cubs still finding enough offense to separate, one mistake in the air was not enough to change the game. Moreno supplied the loudest Arizona swing, but the Cubs left with the 8-4 win and the cleaner box score.
