It was a handsome day in the Windy City, and things got even better when the Chicago Cubs were able to snap their three-game skid behind yet another quality start from Jake Arrieta in Thursday evening’s 7-1 win over the Atlanta Braves.
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Russell singled and scored in the third and added a solo homer in the fourth to make it 5-0. Rizzo followed with his 24th home run of the season on a first pitch to right, scoring center fielder Dexter Fowler and Coghlan.
“I’ve been looking closely at his pitch count and the inning he’s into and the score”, said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. He won his third straight start Saturday, giving up three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over the White Sox.
The Cubs should feel confident behind Arrieta (14-6, 2.39 ERA), who has allowed one home run while going 8-1 with a 1.35 ERA and held opponents to a. 166 batting average over his last 11 starts. Hendricks has issued two or more walks in five straight starts after allowing only five in his previous eight outings. Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (4-5) worked 4 2/3 innings and took the loss. Gonzalez ejected by Eddings. “It wasn’t anything insane, but you can’t argue balls and strikes so I got to watch the rest of the game on TV”.
The ejection – his first – came with runners on first and second and one out. Left fielder Michael Bourn then walked and stole second, but Arrieta struck out Foltynewicz, and Markakis grounded to short to end the inning.
LF Kyle Schwarber went 1-for-4 with a walk, a three-run home run and three runs scored.
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3B Kris Bryant had his first two-day break since joining the Cubs in April. With 10 homers, Schwarber already is tied for seventh among National League rookies despite having played in far fewer (36) games.
