Game 69 of 162 has Jake “The Great One” Arrieta heading into game 3 of the Cardinals series in Wrigleyville with the Cubs down by 2 looking to avoid being swept. Jake’s last outing against the Cardinals on May 25 in St Louis had him only go 5 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 earned runs, striking out 4. The offense was able to keep him in the game and give him a W. Today’s match up would see him going against struggling Michael Wacha with only 2 wins on the season. His last outing was a Loss for the Cards going only 4 innings giving up 8 earned runs on 8 hits, striking out 4 batters. As far as history goes, this should be the game the Cubs win to avoid the sweep.
The Cubs hitters would not land their first hit until the bottom of the fourth inning until Anthony Rizzo sends a line drive to left with two outs and Kris Bryant on. After that Wacha would continue to mow the Cubs down until the bottom of the 7th when he would give up a one out double to Addison Russell who would score with two outs, when Wilson Contreras cranks his second home run of the season giving the Cubs 2 runs prompting a pinching change for the Cardinals. Seth Maness would close out the 7th and get one out in the 8th to be replace by Tyler Lyons who gets Chris Coghlan to ground into an inning ending double play. Tyler would be replace in the 9th after getting the first out by Jonathon Broxton who shuts the door on the Cubs.
It’s obvious at this point that Jake did not have a “Great” outing on a potential rainout. Jake would start out the game with maybe not his best stuff but strrikes out 6 through 4 innings giving up two doubles Jhonny Peralta. The fifth inning would see Matt Carpentar and Matt Adams getting on base by walks with Aledmys Diaz getting a single in between. Stephen Piscotty would seemingly ground into a routine double play, Bryant to Zobrist but Ben’s throw to first is an error scoring Diaz, as Carpenter already scored.
The Cubs would bring Justin Grimm into the sixth who immediately gives up a double to Brandon Moss, scoring on Yadier Molina’s fielders choice. Bryant throws gone to try and catch Moss but trying to make the tag, Montero would bend his leg in the wrong way, bringing in Wilson Contreras. Grimm would give up another run when Kolten Wong would score on Matt Carpenters double to center. Maddon would visit the mound to bring in Carl Edwards Jr to give up a 2 run home run to Diaz putting the Cards up 7-0.
Edwards would stay in for the seventh, striking out two for a quick inning. A Southern Illinois Alum donning a Cubs uniform for the first time, comes into the 8th walking one batter but allowing no runs or any hits striking out Carpentar. He stays in the for the 9th, striking out two and getting Molina to flyout to end the inning.
The Cubs are swept for the first time since 1988 at Wrigley Field. They leave for the heat down to play the Miami Marlins for a four game series.
Go Cubs Go!
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