Cubs’ Tapani Goes Distance, Earns Rest

Kevin Tapani pitched so well Tuesday night, he’s going to get a day off.

Tapani took a shutout into the ninth inning and led the Chicago Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost their fourth consecutive game.

Tapani threw 109 pitches and will be pushed back in the rotation from Sunday to next Tuesday. He was bothered by back problems at the end of last season and Baylor said the extra rest is precautionary.

“I’ve been throwing quite a few innings. An extra day won’t hurt,” said Tapani, who has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last eight starts and 10 of his last 11 outings.

Cub Manager Don Baylor said, “He’s a guy I can count on, who I can go to. There was never a doubt that he was going to finish the game.”

Tapani (4-6) pitched a five-hitter, allowing a solo homer to Craig Counsell with one out in the ninth inning.

Tapani also had a complete game April 18, but that in a 4-3 loss to Montreal.