Game Eleven – Cubs 6, Rockies 2
WP – Jake Arrieta (3-0) LP – Christian Bergman (0-2) Save – None
Jake Arrieta completed eight shutout innings. Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back jacks on consecutive pitches in the fourth inning. And Dexter Fowler launched a three-run homer in the seventh as the Cubs topped the Rockies on Saturday afternoon.
Jake Arrieta was just outstanding once again at the old ballyard. Arrieta blanked the Rockies for eight innings and ran his Wrigley Field scoreless innings streak to 48 2/3 innings.
Jake Arrieta struck out the side to start his afternoon and finished the game with eight strikeouts. Only one of the five hits went for extra bases and he erased the free pass he issued in the eighth with a 5-4-3 double play. Arrieta faced three over the minimum on 100 pitches, 68 for strikes.
The Cubs broke-up the combined shutout in the fourth inning. And gave Arrieta all the run support he would need. Arrieta would have gone back out for the ninth inning if the Cubs were not up 6-0 after eight innings.
Anthony Rizzo (1-for-3 with a home run and a walk) smoked the first pitch from Christian Bergman in the fourth inning over the wall in right field.
Jorge Soler (2-for-4 with a home run) followed Rizzo with a solo shot of his own. Soler launched the first pitch from Bergman and the ball ended up in the left field bleachers.
Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back jacks on back-to-back pitches and gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead … first time this season the Cubs hit back-to-back home runs.
The Cubs tacked on to the lead in the seventh with the third big fly of the day.
Matt Szczur (1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) singled to left with one out and stole second base. Rockies’ reliever David Hale walked David Ross (0-for-2 with a walk and a sac fly RBI). Jake Arrieta (0-for-4) flied out to center. Szczur tagged and went to third with two outs.
Dexter Fowler (1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI) pulled a 2-1 pitch to deep right, and it was a no-doubter. Fowler’s three run homer gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead.
The Cubs added one more in the eighth after Javier Baez (2-for-4 with a double and a run scored) reached with a one-out double to right center. A wild pickoff throw to second with Russell at the plate allowed Baez to move up 90 feet. Addison Russell (0-for-3 with a walk) walked.
David Ross drove the first pitch from Jason Gurka to right field. Baez tagged and scored after Carlos Gonzalez hauled in the routine fly, 6-0 Cubs.
Joe Maddon replaced Arrieta with Travis Wood in the ninth. And the Rockies put two runs on the scoreboard.
Trevor Story doubled to right with one down. Carlos Gonzalez went opposite field with Wood’s first offering. Gonzalez’s two-run homer made it 6-2 Cubs and chased Wood from the game. Maddon went to his pen for Pedro Strop. And he struck out Nolan Arenado and retired Gerardo Parra on soft grounder back to the mound to end the game.
The Cubs scored six runs on eight hits with five walks and struck out 10 times. And Cubs’ pitchers allowed two runs on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
With Saturday’s win, the Cubs improved to 9-2 on the young season.
The Cubs wrap up the homestand Sunday (1:20pm) with the finale of the three-game series against the Rockies. Jon Lester is scheduled to face Tyler Chatwood.