|
 Arrieta (10-5) permitted only two hits to win his third
consecutive decision as the Cubs took two of three from the
Cardinals, who maintained their 1 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh atop
the National League Central. Arrieta also helped himself with a
two-run triple and Chris Valaika delivered a pinch-hit RBI single
for Chicago.
Yadier Molina had a pair of hits and scored a run for St. Louis,
which is seeking its second straight division crown. John Lackey
(14-10) took the loss despite striking out eight and permitting two
runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Chicago had a runner on second with two outs in the fourth when the
Cardinals elected to intentionally walk Logan Watkins, but Arrieta
foiled the strategy when he split the outfielders with a shot to
right-center for his first career triple and a 2-0 lead. Yadier
Molina led off the fifth with the first hit off Arrieta and moved to
third on Peter Bourjos fielder's choice.
Bourjos stole second and Molina came home when catcher Welington
Castillo's throw skipped into center field to cut the deficit in
half but the Cubs tacked on an insurance run in the eighth off
Carlos Martinez. Ryan Kalish had a pinch-hit double before Valaika
drove him home with a single and Hector Rondon escaped a
ninth-inning jam for his 27th save.
[to top of second column] |
GAME NOTEBOOK: Arrieta finished the season with a 2.53 ERA, the best
by a Cubs pitcher with a minimum of 150 innings since Mark Prior had
a 2.43 ERA in 2003. ... Cardinals 3B Matt Carpenter drew his 95th
walk to take over the major-league lead and could be the first St.
Louis player with the most walks since Mark McGwire in 1998. ... The
Cardinals are off Thursday before winding up the regular season with
three games in Arizona while the Cubs head to Milwaukee to open a
three-game set on Friday.
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