Game Eighty-Seven – Cubs 3, White Sox 1
WP – Jake Arrieta (10-5) LP – Jose Quintana (4-9) Save – None
Jake Arrieta did it all for the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. Arrieta tossed his second complete game of the season and faced just two over the minimum on the mound. At the plate, Arrieta hit the first home run of his career, a solo shot in the fifth on a 0-2 pitch, as the Cubs beat the White Sox at the old ballyard on the day the organization was honoring Ernie Banks.
Jake Arrieta dominated the White Sox lineup throughout the afternoon. The Sox did not square up a single ball off Arrieta over the nine innings. Arrieta struck out six of the first nine batters he faced on 35 pitches and did not give up a hit until one out in the fourth. Arrieta kept his pitch count low then found an extra gear in the ninth inning.
After not striking out a single batter from the fourth through the eighth inning, Arrieta struck out the side in order in the ninth to end the game. An argument could be made Sunday was his best outing of the season.
Jake Arrieta tied a career-high with his 10th win of the season and he became the first Cubs’ starter to record 10 wins before the All-Star break since Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano in 2008.
Kris Bryant (1-for-3 with a triple, a RBI, a run scored and a hit by pitch) and Jorge Soler (1-for-4 with a RBI) drove in the first two runs of the game as the Cubs ambushed Jose Quintana in the first inning. Bryant’s triple and Soler’s single were on the first pitch of their at bats.
Jake Arrieta (1-for-2 with a home run and a sac bunt) provided a little cushion in the fifth with the first home run of his career on a 0-2 pitch from Jose Quintana.
Jake Arrieta allowed one run on two hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. Arrieta made 106 pitches, 74 for strikes, in his complete game gem throwing to Taylor Teagarden.
The Cubs offense jumped on Jose Quintana in the first inning. Dexter Fowler (3-for-4 with a run scored) singled to center on the first pitch of his at bat and scored on a triple to left by Kris Bryant. Sunday was Fowler’s first three hit game since April 28. With the infield in, Jorge Soler broke his bat on the first pitch, singled to left and plated Bryant.
The Cubs snapped their three-game skid and avoided a sweep behind Jake Arrieta. The Cubs ended the 10-game homestand with a 5-5 record and improved to 47-40 on the season with Sunday’s win (8-7 on Sunday in 2015) over the Sox.
Jake Arrieta started the afternoon by striking out the side in order on 11 pitches, nine for strikes.
The Cubs came out swinging against Jose Quintana. Dexter Fowler hit the first pitch into center for a single. Anthony Rizzo flied out to left (0-2 pitch).
Kris Bryant pulled Quintana’s first pitch down the third baseline. Cabrera could not keep the ball out of the corner. Fowler scored all the way from first on a triple from Bryant, 1-0 Cubs. Robin Ventura pulled his infield in and Jorge Soler singled to left. Bryant scored, 2-0 Cubs. Chris Denorfia rolled into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Jose Quintana threw only 12 pitches in the first inning, nine for strikes.
After one complete, the Cubs led 2-0.
Jake Arrieta started the fifth inning with the Cubs still leading 2-0. Arrieta set the Sox down in order. And Arrieta made 55 pitches, 40 for strikes, in the first five innings.
Jake Arrieta led off the fifth and quickly fell behind 0-2. Arrieta did not miss the third pitch from Quintana.
Jake Arrieta lined the 0-2 pitch from Jose Quintana just over the wall in left. And the first home run for Arrieta in the big leagues gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Addison Russell flied out to center (3-2 pitch), Fowler struck out swinging and Rizzo flied out to left to end the inning. Quintana needed 73 pitches, 52 for strikes, to get through five innings.
The Cubs led 3-0 after five innings.
Carlos Sanchez doubled to left leading off the sixth. Jose Quintana chopped a 1-2 pitch back to the mound. Sanchez advanced to third as Arrieta threw out Quintana at first base. Adam Eaton bunted a 2-1 pitch to the first base side of the mound. Sanchez scampered in on the safety squeeze, 3-1 Cubs. Arrieta threw out Eaton at first base. Tyler Saladino grounded out to Russell for the third out. Arrieta threw 68 pitches, 48 for strikes, in six innings.
The Cubs did nothing in the sixth … 87 pitches for Quintana, 61 for strikes.
After six innings, the Cubs led 3-1.
Jake Arrieta retired the Sox in order in the seventh and eighth innings. The Cubs were not able to tack on in the eighth after Dexter Fowler was thrown trying to go from first to third on a single to center by Anthony Rizzo. It was a close play, by the review was upheld. After Zach Putnam replaced Quintana with one out in the eighth and hit Kris Bryant, Soler struck out looking and Chris Denorfia flied out to the track in right center to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta took the hill for the ninth after throwing 90 pitches in eight innings. Arrieta struck out the side in order (Emilio Bonifacio, Adam Eaton and J.B. Shuck) to end the game.
The Cubs are off until Friday. Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant will spend the next two days in Cincinnati. Rizzo and Bryant will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday night and represent the Cubs in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to start Friday night in Atlanta (6:10pm CDT).