Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine – Cubs 5, Phillies 1
WP – Jake Arrieta (19-6) LP – Adam Morgan (5-6) Save – None
The Cubs first four runs scored on doubles by Austin Jackson, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell. The Cubs’ fifth run in the opener scored a long opposite field homer by Starlin Castro. Jake Arrieta limited the Phillies to one run in eight innings as the Cubs took game one from the Phillies on Friday afternoon.
The Cubs offense was rather quiet with the exception of Dexter Fowler (2-for-5 with a run scored) until the fifth inning. Fowler singled in the third for the Cubs’ first hit. Fowler jump started the offense with two outs and the bases empty in the fifth. Fowler singled and scored on a double from Austin Jackson (1-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored) that tied the game at one. Kris Bryant (2-for-5 with a double and a RBI) doubled in Jackson and gave the Cubs the lead.
Singles from Starlin Castro (2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored) and Javier Baez (2-for-4 with a run scored) started the sixth. After Jake Arrieta (0-for-3 with a walk) worked a walk to load the bases, Addison Russell (1-for-4 with a double and two RBI) smoked a two-run double into the left field corner and gave Arrieta a 4-1 lead and a little breathing room.
Starlin Castro cranked a solo homer over the wall in right center in the seventh.
The Cubs scored three of the five runs on two-out hits and ended the game 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position while leaving eight men on base.
Jake Arrieta was not sharp over the first four innings of Friday’s game. Arrieta settled in and retired nine in a row and 11 of 12 before a two out walk to Carlos Ruiz in the seventh. Arrieta got out of the mini-jam in the seventh and struck out two of the four batters he faced in the eighth to end his outing.
Arrieta gave up an earned run for the first time since Aug. 15 on the first home run he has allowed since July 25. Aaron Altherr took Arrieta deep in the second inning. Arrieta gave up one run on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Arrieta made 112 pitches, 70 for strikes, in eight innings.
Jake Arrieta’s season has been so special, even when he struggles he is better than 90 percent of the pitchers in baseball. Arrieta notched his 16th straight quality start on Friday. Lowered his ERA to 1.99 and passed the 200 strikeout mark (204) for the season.
Justin Grimm gave up a single in the ninth but struck out two of the four batters he faced to close out game one.
With the victory in game one of the doubleheader, the Cubs improved to 81-58 on the season.
The Cubs had an incredibly poor approach against Adam Morgan. The Cubs wailed away at anything Morgan threw and did not have a hit through two innings. And Morgan only threw 34 pitches, 24 for strikes, in two innings.
Jake Arrieta retired the Phillies in order on 14 pitches, nine for strikes, in the first inning. Jeff Francoeur bounced back to Arrieta for the first out in the second. Ryan Howard smoked a 2-0 pitch into right center that Austin Jackson tracked down for the second out.
Aaron Altherr crushed a 2-0 pitch from Arrieta and pulled it into the stands in left center. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead on the first homer allowed by Arrieta since July 25. Arrieta struck out Cody Asche looking (2-2 pitch) to end the inning. Arrieta made 26 pitches, 15 for strikes, in two innings.
The Cubs trailed 1-0 after two innings.
Jake Arrieta really had to work in the fourth inning. With the Cubs still trailing 1-0, Jeff Francoeur started the fourth with a single to right. Ryan Howard grounded into a 6-5-3 double play. The play at first was close but was overturned; Baez’s throw to Rizzo was just a little late. Altherr rolled one to the hole at short. Russell made an excellent play and threw to a stretching Castro at second base. Howard was forced as Altherr took over at first. Altherr swiped second and Arrieta walked Asche. With two on, Carlos Ruiz tapped back to Arrieta for the third out … 61 pitches for Arrieta after four innings, 37 for strikes.
The Phillies had a 1-0 lead after four innings.
Jake Arrieta struck out swinging (2-2 pitch) and Addison Russell popped out to short (3-2 pitch) for the first two outs in the fifth. Dexter Fowler lined a 1-1 pitch into right. Fowler’s second hit of the game, a two-out single, kept the inning going for Jackson.
Joe Maddon started Fowler on a 2-2 pitch to Austin Jackson and Fowler scored on a double into the left field corner, game tied at one.
Kris Bryant pounded a 2-0 pitch past a diving Galvis at short and into left center. Jackson scored, 2-1 Cubs, and Bryant hustled to second with a double. Anthony Rizzo flied out to the track in left center to end the inning. Morgan made 92 pitches, 62 for strikes, in five innings.
Jake Arrieta retired the Phillies in order in the fifth. After a nice shutdown inning, Arrieta’s pitch count stood at 71, 46 for strikes.
The Cubs had a 2-1 lead after five innings.
Starlin Castro (right field) and Javier Baez (left field) started the sixth with back-to-back singles. Pete Mackanin decided that was enough for Adam Morgan and went to his pen for Hector Neris. David Ross struck out swinging. Jake Arrieta had a good at bat and worked a walk to load the bases with one out.
Addison Russell pounced on Neris’ first pitch. Russell doubled into the left field corner. Castro and Baez scored, 4-1 Cubs. Arrieta stopped at third. Fowler grounded out to second with the infield in. Russell broke on contact and was caught in no man’s land. Russell was tagged out as Fowler took over at first base. Jackson hit a soft liner to second for the third out.
Jake Arrieta set the Phillies down in order in the sixth … 77 pitches for Arrieta after six innings, 50 for strikes.
The Cubs led 4-1 after six innings.
The Cubs added to the lead in the seventh. Bryant (looking) and Rizzo (swinging) struck out to start the inning.
Starlin Castro drove a 1-1 pitch to deep right center … and Castro’s eighth longball of the year gave the Cubs a 5-1 lead. Baez grounded out to Hernandez in the shift to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta recorded two quick outs to start the seventh. Altherr grounded out to second and Asche flied out to right center. Arrieta walked Carlos Ruiz. Brian Bogusevic batted for Neris and singled to left. Arrieta uncorked a wild pitch on the first offering to Hernandez. With runners on second and third, Cesar Hernandez flied out to right to end the inning. Arrieta needed 94 pitches, 59 for strikes, to complete seven innings.
It was 5-1 Cubs after seven innings.
And that was the final score. Jake Arrieta hung a zero on the board in the eighth. Arrieta struck out two of the last three batters he faced. Justin Grimm retired three of the four batters he faced in the ninth.
The Cubs and Phillies were underway in game two of the doubleheader when the game one recap posted.
Dan Haren is scheduled to take on Jerad Eickhoff on Saturday night (6:05pm CDT) in game three of four in Philadelphia.