Arrieta struck out 10 in seven innings and the Cubs beat the sloppy St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 for their 98th victory, the most since they last played in the World Series in 1945.
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With a series of two-out hits and RBI bolts from Yadier Molina and Randal Grichuk, the Cardinals pulled away for a 4-0 lead before Alex Reyes threw a pitch.
Randal Grichuk added three RBI and Jhonny Peralta had three hits and scored three runs for the Cardinals, who ended a two-game skid and are now int a tie with San Francisco for the final NL wild-card spot.
Martinez lasted just five innings last time out at Colorado but got the win, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out six. The Cubs logged eight hits and three walks with Wilson Contreras going solo while Ben Zobrist tripled in two.
The Cubs also have three different starting pitchers with a home ERA below 2.00 this season.
“They’re obviously the best team in the league”, Molina said. Hammel was lifted after giving up two more hits in the third.
“The records and all that don’t mean that much”, said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, whose team is 9-9 against the Cubs.
Jason Hammel was knocked out after only 2 ½ innings Saturday as the Cardinals hold a 6-3 lead over the Cubs after six innings at Wrigley Field. “Otherwise, we did some nice things”, manager Joe Maddon said.
Perhaps the biggest advantage for the Cubs in clinching home-field advantage is how well they have done against potential playoff opponents.
The Cubs saw their four-game winning streak end. Cardinals starter Mike Leake (9-11) lasted just 3 1/3 innings and took the loss. But Reyes allowed just two hits over his final three innings.
Rizzo, Zobrist and Chris Coghlan drove in runs in the first off Leake, winless in four starts since recovering from shingles.
Hammel has been inconsistent, particularly in the second half, but he has been dominant at home.
Molina added a two-run single for his third hit in a three-run seventh against Hector Rondon.
NOTES: Cardinals LF Matt Holliday took live batting practice on Friday and may still see game action in the season’s final days. Cubs LF Jorge Soler (tight side) is back in the lineup after not starting since September 16. Cubs RHP Pedro Strop (left meniscus tear) said he was excited Friday during his first appearance since landing on the disabled list August 11.
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Maddon pushed his bullpen game to Thursday in Pittsburgh. Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester, the two most likely candidates to start the first two games of the playoffs for the Cubs, are at 1.32 and 1.86, respectively. Hammel is 4-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 11 career starts against the Cardinals and has split four meetings this season. Lester is 8-0 with a 1.05 ERA in his last 10 starts.
