Cubs blast 4 homers for Arrieta's 10th win |
The Chicago Cubs (42-18) blasted four home runs against the Atlanta Braves (18-43) to win 8-2 on a sizzling 94-degree Saturday afternoon at Turner Field.
Ace Jake Arrieta picked up his 10th win of the season going seven innings giving up two runs, two walks, and three strikeouts on 105 pitches. He also tied a career-high at the plate with two hits (both singles) on the day and allowed only four hits total by the Braves. Jason Heyward nailed a solo homer to right field in the first inning to put the Cubs up 1-0 before Arrieta had even thrown a pitch. It was his fourth home run of the season, and he finished just a triple short of the cycle. Anthony Rizzo hit a solo blast to center field to lead off the fourth inning to put the Cubs up 2-0. It was his 14th homer and 44th RBI of the season, and it appears that there are no lingering ill effects of that tight back that he suffered on Friday. The power surge didn't stop there as Miguel Montero followed up Rizzo's blast with a three-run homer to center field to put some distance between the two teams at 5-0. The Cubs have now won their last 58 games after leading by five or more according to ESPN Stats. The Braves got on the board as Adonis Garcia had an RBI single that scored Nick Markakis in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-1. Kris Bryant continued the home run derby type feel with a solo homer to left field in the fifth inning to put the Cubs up 7-1. The ball was hit 110 MPH off of the bat of Bryant, and it was his fifteen homer of the season. This was the seventh time this season that Bryant and Rizzo (Bryzzo) have homered in the same game. The high for home runs by the Cubs on the season is currently still five. Dexter Fowler got into the action with an RBI double that scored Arrieta in the sixth inning to make it 8-1. Every Cubs starter had at least one hit today, and it is the second time this feat has been accomplished this season. Cubs relievers Travis Wood and Trevor Cahill finished up the last two innings to preserve the win. Veteran lefty Jon Lester (7-3, 2.06 ERA) will take the mound against Braves rookie John Gant making his major league debut on Sunday at 12:35 p.m. CT.
