The Cubs roughed up Wainwright (9-7) for seven runs and chased him after two innings, tying his shortest outing in 245 career starts. His last time out in a no-decision against the Reds, Leake gave up three earned on six hits with six innings pitched. Brewers right-hander Matt Garza (4-4) worked six innings and only allowed two runs despite giving up six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Advertisement
The Cubs seem to create excitement at every turn, with a late comeback against the Miami Marlins taking place just a week ago as they scored three in the ninth, capping off the win with a run scored on a wild pitch.
MINNEAPOLIS – Jose Altuve had four hits and Carlos Correa belted a three-run homer to lead Houston to victory in the first game of a doubleheader.
St. Louis starter and hyped prospect Luke Weaver gave up two runs on four hits in his major league debut. Chicago’s Aroldis Chapman needed three pitches to get two liners to third and a groundout, while Seung Hwan Oh struck out the side for St. Louis.
Two of the balls were thrown back onto the field because they came from home runs hit by Cardinals players Stephen Piscotty and Jedd Gyorko.
1929 – Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland’s League Park. The Cardinals are known for their power, smashing 155 home runs.
The only drama became whether or not the Cardinals would retaliate for Matt Holliday’s broken thumb.
Though the Cubs’ streak of quality starts ended at nine – Arrieta went 5⅔ innings – they entered tied for the major-league lead with 73 (with the Blue Jays and Nationals), which has created a friendly completion. “He just ate (innings) for us the last time”.
Wainwright hasn’t won since July 16 and is 0-2 in his last five starts. They allowed 5.5 runs per game during that span, which is higher than their season average of 4.3. Russell homered following Zobrist’s double for a 2-0 Cubs lead.
Weaver struck out the first two batters he faced, Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant, and got Anthony Rizzo to pop out, but ran into trouble in the second inning.
Charlie Blackmon hit three solo home runs for Colorado.
Holliday will decide next week on treatments including surgery or letting the injury heal on its own, according to GM John Mozeliak.
Reliever Pedro Strop underwent surgery Friday morning to fix the torn meniscus that will keep him out for four to six weeks.
A candidate to replace Holliday in the outfield is Randal Grichuk, who rejoined the early Thursday when he was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.
Advertisement
Holliday was hit in the seventh inning of the Cubs’ 4-3 extra innings victory by a 94 miles per hour fastball from Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery.
