The Cubs won their 10th consecutive game Thursday night, beating the rival Cardinals in 11 innings at Wrigley Field (CHC 4, STL 3).
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The 10-game run is the Cubs’ longest since a 12-game streak from May 19-June 2, 2001. They improved the best record in the majors to 73-41. Chicago starts Jake Arrieta, who’s 13-and-5 with a 2.59 ERA. From left to right, Contreras, Szczur and Soler started in the outfield instead and came through on a muggy afternoon.
Although Maddon insisted it’s nearly impossible to replicate what Arrieta did last season, he saw glimpses, especially with the zip Arrieta had on his fastball and the way he pounded the strike zone with it.
“It’s one of those things where it’s going our way”, Rizzo said. If that’s the case, I’m sure plenty of more worthy obits on his Cardinals career will follow, but allow me to say in a few words that he was quietly one of the best players in baseball these last eight years and we were lucky to have him.
Severino was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA as a rookie in the final two months of last season, then started this season 0-6, went on the disabled list and spent two months in the minors.
Arrieta has had a few shaky moments recently, but he’s nothing like Wainwright, who has allowed a combined 12 runs in his last three starts. The Cubs are 32 games over.500 and 10-0 in August, which is only the second time in franchise history they have done that (after winning 18 straight in August 1885).
On the other hand, Mike Montgomery (4-5) stroked out Matt Carpenter to end the threat for the Cubs before he allowed a single and two walks to load the bases in the 11th.
ASTROS 5, BLUE JAYS 3: Joe Musgrove pitched seven innings for his first major league win, Teoscar Hernandez homered for his first big league hit and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Friday night.
Randall Grichuk, just recalled from Memphis, hit the tying home run for the Cardinals in the seventh inning. Adam Duvall hit his 27th home run, and Billy Hamilton stole three bases to push his major league-leading total to 51. Chicago eventually beat St. Louis to reach the NL Championship Series before losing to the New York Mets.
Designated hitter Evan Gattis had four hits, including two doubles.
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David Freese drove in two runs against Padres starter Christian Friedrich (4-8) with a single and a double as the Pirates won their fourth in six games after dropping five of six. Adam Eaton tied a career high with four hits for the White Sox.
