Game Twenty-Five – Cubs 7, Pirates 1
WP – Jake Arrieta (6-0) LP – Jon Niese (3-1) Save – None
Jake Arrieta allowed two hits over seven shutout innings and drove in the second run of the game. The offense kept the line moving as six different Cubs drove in runs. Joe Maddon’s team scored seven runs at PNC Park for the second straight game without hitting a home run as the Cubs beat the Pirates on Tuesday night.
Jake Arrieta was wobbly in the first inning before he settled in and dominated the Pirates. Arrieta walked the first two batters of the night and then found his rhythm. Arrieta worked well with Tim Federowicz and retired 13 in a row after a one-out single from Sean Rodriguez in the second inning. Arrieta did not give up a second hit until the seventh and retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced.
Jake Arrieta left after allowing two singles and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings. Arrieta made 99 pitches, 61 for strikes, and faced three over the minimum. Arrieta drove in the second run of the night. Arrieta was 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI at the plate.
The Cubs scored two runs in the second on a Javier Baez (0-for-5 with a RBI) fielder’s choice that plated Anthony Rizzo (2-for-4 with two doubles, a HBP, a run scored and a RBI) and a Jake Arrieta bases loaded single to center that allowed Ben Zobrist (1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a sac fly RBI) to score.
The Cubs batted around and put four runs on the board in the fourth inning.
Addison Russell (0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored) and Tim Federowicz (2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored) started the fourth with a walk and a double. After Arrieta struck out, a wild pitch allowed Russell to score. Dexter Fowler (1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored) walked. Jorge Soler (1-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI) singled in Federowicz. Kris Bryant (3-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI) hit a 405 foot single to center that plated Fowler. And Anthony Rizzo doubled in Soler.
The Cubs added a run in the ninth on a Ben Zobrist sac fly to center following a Bryant single and Rizzo’s second double of the night.
The Cubs scored seven runs on 11 hits with five walks and a hit by pitch. And the Pirates’ lone run scored in the eighth off Trevor Cahill following an Addison Russell throwing error.
Javier Baez not only had an excellent night at the plate, he put on a defensive clinic at third base. Baez added four plays to his highlight reel.
Jake Arrieta became the first Cubs’ pitcher to win each of his first six starts of a season since Mordecai ‘Three Finger’ Brown won his first 11 starts of the 1908 season.
Here’s how Tuesday’s game played out …
The Cubs got on the board in the second inning. Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch on a 0-2 offering from Jon Niese. Ben Zobrist pulled a 0-1 pitch down the left field line. Rizzo went to third on double from Zobrist.
Javier Baez put a 1-0 pitch in play. Baez grounded out to short, Rizzo scored from third and the Cubs took a 1-0 lead. Jon Niese lost his command and issued back-to-back walks to Addison Russell and Tim Federowicz to load the bases.
Jake Arrieta lined Niese’s first pitch back up the middle and into center field. Zobrist scampered in from third … 2-0 Cubs. With the bases still loaded and one out, Fowler struck out swinging. Jorge Soler flied out to right to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta faced the minimum in the second after Jordy Mercer grounded into a 5-4-3 inning ending double play. Arrieta needed 29 pitches, 16 for strikes, to complete two innings and the Cubs led 2-0.
The Cubs went to work in the fourth inning and tacked on the 2-0 lead.
Addison Russell started the four-run fourth inning with a walk. Tim Federowicz doubled off the right field wall. Russell held at third with no outs. Arrieta struck out swinging. A 2-2 pitch to Dexter Fowler got past Francisco Cervelli. Russell scored from third, 3-0 Cubs. Federowicz moved to third. Fowler went from 0-2 to 4-2.
Jorge Soler ripped a 1-0 pitch into left. Federowicz trotted in from third, 4-0 Cubs. Fowler held at second with one out.
Kris Bryant just missed a three-run homer. Bryant drove the ball to the deepest part of PNC Park. McCutchen raced back and had a play. The ball bounced off his glove as he tried to make a leaping catch. Fowler scored on what was a 405 foot single. Soler had to hold on what should have been at least a double.
Anthony Rizzo doubled to center. Soler scored and made it 6-0 Cubs. Bryant was held at third. With runners on second and third with one out, Zobrist struck out swinging. Sean Rodriguez robbed Javier Baez of a hit and a couple of RBI with an excellent play on a ball ticketed for center field to end the inning.
Arrieta tossed a 1-2-3 fourth inning. And after four complete, the Cubs led 6-0.
Jake Arrieta turned the game over to the pen in the eighth inning. Arrieta retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced. The Cubs went down in order in the eighth and the Pirates got on the board in the home half against Trevor Cahill.
Sean Rodriguez started the eighth with a single to left. Chris Stewart batted for A.J. Schugel. Stewart rolled a 3-1 pitch to Russell. What should have been a 6-4-3 double play, turned into an error for Russell. His throw to Zobrist was wide of the bag, ended up in right field and Rodriguez went to third. Cahill struck out Jason Rogers swinging with runners on the corners. John Jaso broke up the shutout with a swinging bunt. Federowicz picked the ball up and threw to first as Rodriguez scored, 6-1 Cubs. Cahill struck out McCutchen swinging to end the inning.
The Cubs got the run back in the ninth. Bryant singled to center off Jared Hughes. Rizzo doubled to the right field corner. Bryant held at third. Zobrist lifted a 1-1 pitch to center. Bryant tagged and scored, 7-1 Cubs. Javier Baez flied out to the wall in center. After a wild pitch allowed Rizzo to take third, Russell struck out swinging to end the inning.
Trevor Cahill pitched the ninth, issued a one out walk to Matt Joyce, but that was all. Cahill retired Gregory Polanco on a tapper back to the mound to end the game.
With Tuesday’s win, the Cubs improved to 19-6 on the season.
Jon Lester faces Juan Nicasio on Wednesday morning (11:35am CDT) in the series finale at PNC Park.