The Cubs also could make a bit of history in terms of their record, as they are angling to become the first Cubs team to finish with 100 or more victories since the 1935 squad won exactly 100 contests. Those three games will take place next weekend when the Cardinals come to Wrigley Field for a three-game set as the Cubs wrap up the home portion of their schedule.
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Sound from a hammer pounding and the constant hum of a drill distracted Maddon before the Cubs defeated the Brewers 5-4 in 10 innings in a game that counts in the standings but doesn’t matter much in this team’s scheme of things. “We had a really good way about us today. That’s going to happen”.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who replaced Broxton in center, later left the game with an abdominal strain, leaving the Brewers dangerously low on healthy outfielders and likely in need of summoning help. Reliever Tyler Thornburg faced the top of the Cubs’ order and got the final four outs for his 10th save. Cueto (16-5) became the NL’s fourth 16-game victor with his league-leading fifth complete game. Ortiz was also in the middle of the ninth-inning rally, collecting his 114th RBI. Josh Donaldson returned to the Blue Jays’ starting lineup as the designated hitter after missing the past three games because of a jammed right hip.
The 24-year-old from La Habana, Cuba, is another member of the Chicago youth movement that is having trouble finding traction on a team that entered play 93-53 on Friday and already cinched the NL Central crown.
In his previous start, Arrieta gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings against Houston while dealing with an illness. Tommy La Stella led off the bottom of the first with a single. He threw 88 pitches, 61 for strikes. In the inning, Milwaukee scored three runs, including Gennett’s RBI double, after Jonathan Villar walked and stole second. He struck out swinging as a pinch hitter in the ninth.
Hector Santiago (12-8) got the win, holding the Tigers to one run in 5 2/3 innings. Brew Crew starter Chase Anderson allowed two runs over six frames before Carlos Torres gave up two in the 9th to blow a 4-2 lead with Blaine Boyer served up a walk off homer in the 9th to absorb the loss.
Cardinals first base Brandon Moss tipped his cap to Lester (17-4), who allowed four base runners, none of whom got past first. They had a chance to clinch it in front of their fans at Wrigley Field Thursday night, but lost to the Brewers. Pittsburgh’s first seven runs all came from homers.
DETROIT – Brian Dozier’s two-run single highlighted a four-run second inning, and Minnesota handed Detroit a crucial loss.
And in this one, the wind was blowing out on a warm day. The Rays, who are looking to play spoiler, won their third straight game.
Arrieta went 0-3 in July despite two strong seven-inning outings.
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Braun put the game out of reach in the eighth, with a two-run shot to left-center that made it 6-3.
