Kris Bryant starred as the Chicago Cubs got the better of the Milwaukee Brewers in a 9-6 slugfest in Major League Baseball action on Thursday.
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In Cincinnati, Ramon Cabrera hit a three-run homer, Dan Straily continued his second-half surge and the Reds beat Miami for their eighth victory in 10 series since the All-Star break.
Chicago led 5-0 when Arrieta (15-5) issued a pair of two-out walks in the fourth.
Kris Bryant homered twice and drove in five runs in a 5 for 5 day at the plate to power the Cubs. Both Braun and manager Craig Counsell said he might be ready to play Thursday in Chicago and definitely expect him to play over the weekend in Seattle. When you see the wind blowing out to center, you want to take advantage of that. “We didn’t get many guys on period”. Getting on base against him made a difference.
There aren’t many effective strategies for pitching to Bryant and this was a day in which he was particularly locked in. “He did a great job”.
If not for his partnership in Bryzzo Souvenir Co., Bryant might be the National League’s clear-cut MVP favorite, instead of potentially splitting the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote with Anthony Rizzo. Matt Szczur opened with a single and Bryant homered to left to double the lead to 4-0.
Jake Barrett (1-1) was touched for three runs in the eighth to snap Arizona’s four-game winning streak.
Of Nieuwenhuis’ 11 homers, five have come against the Cubs. For Arrieta, it marked the second consecutive home game he surrendered a round-tripper after having not given up any since last July 25. Betts hit a three-run drive in the fifth inning and added a tiebreaking two-run shot in the seventh.
– Marlins ace Jose Fernandez became the second-quickest to 200 strikeouts in a season (139 2/3 innings).
Soler, who gained big-stage notoriety when he reached base nine straight plate appearances during the playoffs last fall, spent almost two months on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. He struck out four and walked one in his 90-pitch outing.
“I put myself in a tough situation”, Arrieta said. “We just kind of go about our business after what they do”. The players are hopeful their good luck charm, the Rally Mantis, can help them get back into the playoffs. “It’s a good lineup”. “He can hit any pitch, any mistake”. “If I let the ball get in the air, then that’s my fault”.
Soler’s homer on a 2-2 pitch was a convincing smash that landed just under the videoboard atop of the left-center field stands.
Lester and the rest of the Cubs starting pitchers have been magnificent, going 11-0 in August, with Chicago’s only two losses being hung on relievers.
Mike Montgomery followed Cahill in the first game and pitched two innings, Hector Rondon worked the eighth and Joe Smith walked two in the ninth before Chapman hit 103 miles per hour and struck out one.
Bryant hit his second homer off Blaine Boyer in the sixth.
PADRES 9, DIAMONDBACKS 8: Rookie Alex Dickerson’s two-out, three-run double in the eighth inning lifted San Diego past Arizona.
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Milwaukee was outscored 23-8 in the series and fell to 0-6 at Wrigley Field.
