D-Backs’ Buchholz strong in his return

CHICAGO – Clay Buchholz pitched effectively into the seventh in his return from the disabled list, Steven Souza Jr. had three hits and an RBI and the Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Tuesday night for their third straight win.

Souza, Paul Goldschmidt and Steven Souza Jr. each drove in a run during Arizona’s three-run fifth, and then Jon Jay and Ketel Marte drove in a run each to help the Diamondbacks pull away. Souza reached base five times as Arizona won for the fifth time in its last six games at Wrigley Field.

Buchholz (3-1), sidelined since June 25 with an oblique injury, walked two and struck out five in 62⁄3 innings as he lowered his ERA to 2.38 in eight starts with Diamondbacks. Brad Boxberger, Arizona’s third reliever, struck out the side in the ninth.

Jason Heyward lined a solo shot off Buchholz in the sixth, but NL Centralleading Chicago lost for the third time in its last four.

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was held out of the starting lineup with a recurrence of the left shoulder inflammation that caused the slugger to miss 16 games. Manager Joe Maddon said Bryant’s injury requires rest, and the two-time All-Star may sit again Wednesday.

Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks (6-9) labored through five innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. The righty struck out eight and escaped jams in the first and third innings.

Buchholz signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks in May after being released by Kansas City. The 33-year-old right-hander had signed a minor league deal with the Royals in March in a bid to come back from right forearm surgery that limited him to just two games with Philadelphia in 2017.

In this one, Buchholz didn’t allow a hit until two outs in the fourth when Javier Baez squibbed an infield single to third.

Hendricks threw 71 pitches through the first three innings. The Diamondbacks loaded the based in the third on a single and two walks, but Hendricks ended the threat by striking out Lamb.