Chicago had won 10 of 11 until Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Arizona that was also Jake Arrieta’s first loss in 21 decisions.
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“It was just a odd day overall”, Arrieta said.
Jose Quintana (5-6) took the loss, allowing a season-high five runs on nine hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. It marked only the third time in his career he notched a dozen.
Jason Hammel (6-1, 2.09 ERA) tries again for his seventh win as the Cubs while LHP Edwin Escobar (0-1, 18.90) pitches for the Diamondbacks.
Arrieta’s only loss in his last 31 starts was Cole Hamels’ no-hitter for Philadelphia at Wrigley Field on July 25. He could have come in Thursday against the Dodgers after being unavailable Wednesday but was not needed in a lopsided win.Maddon said he would have tried to avoid using him against Los Angeles but was prepared to call on Rondon in this game. Hale said he got a good report on Shelby Miller (sprained right index finger) after the right-hander threw five scoreless innings in an extended spring game Saturday.
The start of the game laid the groundwork for the strangeness that followed.
HOUSTON – Carlos Correa lined a walk-off single to right field with one out in the 12th inning as Houston claimed the victory over Oakland. “You feel pretty good about each of them getting pretty deep into the game”. It appeared in replays that Goldschmidt had swung at the changeup in the dirt by reliever Trevor Cahill. The 23-year-old righty struck out 10, eclipsing his previous career high of nine in Sunday’s victory over San Diego, before the Cubs broke the game open against the bullpen.
Arrieta struck out 12 in five innings of work while allowing three earned runs at Wrigley Field. Through five innings, he had thrown 108 pitches. They had a runner on base via walk in the eighth (Ben Zobrist) and ninth (pinch-hitter Anthony Rizzo, who otherwise had the day off), but could not advance either runner past first base.
Javier Baez hit a solo home run for Chicago in the sixth.
“It was a good run”, Arrieta said. It’s hard to describe [the streak].
Arrieta’s streak nearly ended in his last outing Tuesday against the Dodgers when he left after seven scoreless innings.
The Phillies have really come back down to earth the last few weeks and are looking like the team we all expected before the season.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta entered Sunday’s start riding a franchise-record 20-game winning streak.
“What can I say, man?” manager Joe Maddon said. “I like the fact we’re upset at losing, but an 8-2 homestand?” But it’s worth pointing out how much better Arrieta’s is than some pitchers who rank among the best in baseball.
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“To lose a one-run game with a chance to sweep is tough, but we’re playing really well”, he said. You really made it hard to use the bullpen the rest of the game by not doing the right thing by calling him out’.
