Game One Hundred Twenty-Five – Cubs 5, Padres 3
WP – Jake Arrieta (16-5) LP – Christian Friedrich (4-10) Save – Aroldis Chapman (28)
Kris Bryant homered and drove in two runs. Addison Russell hit a towering two-run blast in the fifth inning. Jake Arrieta blanked the Padres on two hits for eight innings. The Cubs bullpen struggled in the ninth before Aroldis Chapman struck out Christian Bethancourt to close it out. And the Cubs posted win No. 80 on the season on Tuesday night in San Diego.
The Cubs played a good game for eight innings Tuesday. Jake Arrieta was effective and gave up two hits in eight innings. Arrieta struggled with his command early in the game. The Cubs defense picked up Arrieta in the first three innings and turned three double plays behind him in the first five innings. Arrieta appeared to get more comfortable with Willson Contreras with every pitch he made. Arrieta walked three and struck out six on 99 pitches, 59 for strikes, in eight shutout innings.
The Cubs defense was the difference in the game while Arrieta was dealing with command issues. Willson Contreras picked off Travis Jankowski from third base for the second out in the first inning. And Javier Baez was in the middle of two incredible double plays in the second and third innings. Right around the time Arrieta found a groove the offense stepped it up and put runs on the board.
Kris Bryant (1-for-2 with a home run, a sac fly, two walks, two runs scored and two RBI) and Addison Russell (2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI) hit home runs Tuesday and drove in four of the five runs. And Bryant scored the fifth run on a double from Ben Zobrist (3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a RBI).
Kris Bryant homered in the third and scored the second run in the fifth on a double from Ben Zobrist. Addison Russell gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead with his fifth longball in five games, a two-run shot to left center in the fifth inning.
Jake Arrieta (1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored) received a gift triple and scored on a sac fly from Bryant in the sixth.
The Cubs scored five runs on 10 hits and left the Padres in the game. The Cubs must learn how to hit with runners on base and in scoring position. The Cubs were 1-for-7 with RISP and left 10 men on base. The team’s bullpen issues almost made the lack of situational hitting a story again.
Felix Pena had a bad night in his second appearance out of the bullpen. The Cubs took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Pena could not throw quality strikes and forced Maddon to use Aroldis Chapman in a game in which the Cubs had a five-run lead in the ninth inning. Pena was charged with three runs on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in a third of an inning. Chapman struggled with his command. Chapman walked two and allowed two inherited runners to score. After a visit from Chris Bosio, Chapman struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the game.
Kris Bryant put the Cubs on the board in the third inning with a towering homer to left center. Bryant went yard for the 33rd time on the season and the Cubs took a 1-0 lead. Ben Zobrist reached on an error by third baseman Yangervis Solarte. Addison Russell pulled a 1-1 pitch to deep left center. The ball hit and jumped over the wall for a ground rule double. Zobrist stopped at third. Heyward popped out at second with runners on second and third to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta settled in somewhat in the third, with help from his defense. Arrieta faced the minimum thanks to an excellent defensive play from Javier Baez. Arrieta issued a one-out walk to Luis Sardinas. Christian Friedrich bunted. Baez, not Rizzo, crashed on the ball that was bunted to the first base side of the mound, picked it up and threw a strike to Russell … 4-6-3 inning ending double play.
The Cubs took the 1-0 lead into the fifth.
Friedrich walked Bryant to start the fifth and he scored on a one-out double to right center off the bat of Ben Zobrist … 2-0 Cubs. And Zobrist was on base when Russell unloaded on a 1-0 pitch from Friedrich.
Addison Russell hit a towering homer to left center, his fifth longball in five games. Russell’s no-doubter gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead. Heyward struck out looking and Baez flied out to center to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta faced the minimum in the fifth again after the defense turned its third double play of the game.
The Cubs led 4-0 after five innings.
The Padres defense gave the Cubs a run in the sixth. After Contreras grounded out to short for the first out, Jake Arrieta lifted a 1-1 pitch to deep right. Patrick Kivlehan overran the ball in the right field corner. Arrieta ran the bases and ended up at third with a standing triple. Dexter Fowler walked on four pitches. Andy Green made his way to the mound and went to his pen. Green replaced Friedrich with Brandon Morrow.
Kris Bryant flied out to center (1-2 pitch), Arrieta tagged and scored. And the Cubs led 5-0 after five and a half innings.
Jake Arrieta retired the Padres in order in the sixth.
After six complete, the Cubs led 5-0.
Jake Arrieta gave up only one more hit as he appeared to get more and more comfortable pitching to Willson Contreras. The Cubs did not add on against the Padres’ pen. Felix Pena took over for Arrieta in the ninth with the Cubs leading 5-0.
Felix Pena issued a leadoff walk to Luis Sardinas. Adam Rosales singled to left. The Padres had two on with no outs. Pena caught Jankowski looking for the first out. Wil Myers singled to right on a 1-2 pitch. Heyward charged the ball and made a strong throw to the plate. Sardinas was called out but replays showed otherwise and the Padres were on the board … 5-1 Cubs. Maddon was forced to call on Aroldis Chapman with runners on the corners and one out.
Solarte flied out to right. Rosales tagged and scored, 5-2 Cubs. Myers went to third with two down. Chapman walked Alex Dickerson. With Ryan Schimpf at the plate, Chapman uncorked a wild pitch. Myers scored, 5-3 Cubs. Dickerson went to third with two outs. Chapman walked Schimpf.
Chris Bosio went to the mound with the Cubs clinging to a two-run lead and the tying runs on base. Chapman found the strike zone and struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the game.
The Cubs took care of business on Tuesday night in San Diego and posted their 80th win of the season.
With Tuesday’s win, the Cubs are a season-high 35 games over .500 with an 80-45 record.
Kyle Hendricks takes the mound on Wednesday afternoon (2:40pm CDT) and will oppose Paul Clemens in the series and season series finale with the Padres.