Cubs 2, Phillies 1

[June 14, 2014]  By Gordie Jones, The Sports Xchange
 
 PHILADELPHIA -- Jake Arrieta pitched seven shutout innings and reliever Neil Ramirez survived a rocky ninth inning on Friday night, as the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1.

Shortstop Starlin Castro hit a two-run homer for Chicago, which won for only the second time in its last six games, and for the third time in its last 10 on the road. The Cubs are 12-24 away from home, the worst road record in the major leagues.

Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins had one of the Phillies' five hits, a leadoff double off Ramirez in the ninth. It was the 2,234th hit of Rollins' career, tying him with Mike Schmidt for the team's all-time record.

Left fielder Domonic Brown singled home Rollins later in the ninth to cut the Cubs' lead to 2-1, but Ramirez struck catcher Carlos Ruiz out looking with runners at the corners to end the game. Ramirez earned his second save.

The Phillies saw a three-game winning streak end, which matched their longest of the season.
 

Arrieta (2-1) retired the first seven hitters he faced and did not allow a hit until Brown doubled just inside the left-field line with one out in the fifth. The Phillies' only other hit Arrieta allowed was a two-out infield single by right fielder Marlon Byrd in the seventh.

Arrieta, who struck out a season-high nine and walked one, ran his scoreless-inning streak to 16 2/3 and won for the first time since May 22 against San Diego, four starts earlier. In between he lost to San Francisco and was saddled with no-decisions against the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins.

Pedro Strop pitched a scoreless inning in relief for the Cubs, allowing only a single to Ruiz.

Phillies starter Roberto Hernandez was ejected by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger after hitting Castro with a pitch with two outs in the sixth. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg was also ejected, for arguing the decision.

Hernandez (2-5) allowed two runs on three hits in his 5 2/3 innings of work, while striking out five and walking two. He is 0-3 since May 4, a span that includes five starts and three relief appearances.

In the fourth inning, Castro hit a 1-1 pitch from Hernandez into the seats in left-center field for his ninth homer of the year after first baseman Anthony Rizzo drew a leadoff walk.

NOTES: The two teams wore 1964 throwback uniforms as part of the Phillies' 1960s Retro Night. ... When Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked by the Philadelphia Daily News if the team will be a seller at the July 31 trade deadline, he said, "We have to see what happens over the next couple of weeks." Should they go in that direction, he told the Daily News, "I can't say there are any untouchables. Some guys are less touchable than others." ... The Cubs placed 2B Emilio Bonifacio (ribs) on the 15-day disabled list and activated OF Ryan Sweeney from the DL. ... Phillies 3B Cody Asche (hamstring) began a rehab assignment at Class A Lakewood on Friday.

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