Game 2 of 3 with The Great One on the mound vs Pirates Jeff Locke. Both men would practically mirror each other for the first three innings. They would each start with a 1-2-3 inning. Then put one man on in the second and have another 1-2-3 inning in the third. The Pirates would strike first in the top half of the fourth. With Polanco on second and McCutchen on third Francisco Cervelli would rip a double to center scoring both men. Jake would get out of the inning but the Cuns would be down by 2.
Jason Heyward would leadoff with a single. Kris Bryant would walk. Two men on for Rizzo and he sends a fly ball to center for his 11th home run of the season. Just like that the Cubs are up 3-2.
Arrieta would have a solid top of the fifth but not before walking Locke. Locke himself would mirror the top half but with giving up another single to Heyward. Jakes top half of the sixth would be perfect. Ben Zobrist would leadoff the bottom half with a single but Soler would pop out. Addison Russell would get his first hit of the day with a two run home run putting the Cubs up by 3. The very next batter Miguel Montero would be hit but this would prompt the home plate umpire Brian Knight to issue warnings to both sides. Both sides seem confused but it may stem from his earlier ejection of Pitates pitching coach Ray Searage. This would also bring in a new pitcher Jared Hughes who would walk The Great One. With two men on, Dexter Fowler would send a soft line drive to left scoring Montero. Hughes would walk Heyward but would get out of the inning.
Arrieta would come back out for the seventh with ease. AJ Schugel would come into the bottom of the seventh give up a walk but get out of the inning. Jake would come back out for the bottom of the eighth with two K’s and a ground out. Tommy LaStella would pinch hit for Jake but go down swinging. Fowler, Heyward and Bryant would all single. Fowler would score on Bryant’s single, Heyward to third but Bryant would be tagged trying to make it a double. Rizzo would single scoring Heyward and now the Cubs are up 8-2.
Justin Grimm would come in to finish the game off and he would just that with a 1-2-3 inning. Arrieta would have another solid quality start with 11 strikeouts in 8 innings. He would only give up two runs on three hits and walk two batters. Another one in the books for the Cubs. They now are a league leading 27 and 8. Go Cubs Go!