Chicago Cubs, Arrieta stung by Jaso in loss to the Pirates

Prior to today’s game, the Chicago Cubs were 14-3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tonight, the home team got the best of the North Siders as one player hit for the cycle.

Well, you might as well get the losses out-of-the-way before the Chicago Cubs head to the postseason as the No. 1 seed. And while the winning streak was fun while it lasted, plenty of positives are still in sight for the Cubbies.

Despite getting hammered by the Pittsburgh Pirates, right-hander Jake Arrieta will sit at the top of the rotation. Arrieta (18-8, 3.10 ERA) will end the regular season with an earned run average over three.

In five innings of work, Jake surrendered seven earned runs on 10 hits while issuing two walks, and recording four strikeouts. His nemesis of the evening? First baseman John Jaso.

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For the first time in PNC Park history, a player has hit for the cycle. And to make things even better for tonight’s crowd, it was one of their own. Jaso crushed a three-run homer off Arrieta in the fourth inning.

A three-run shot that broke a 1-1 tie, putting the Pirates (78-80) up by the score of 4-1 and they wouldn’t stop there. Chicago’s (101-58) first run of the ballgame came in the first inning of play thanks to Anthony Rizzo.

Rizzo dug deep and launched a pitch out to right field, barely clearing the top of that infamous Clemente wall. Only one of Chicago’s two hits of the evening. Which is disappointing, to say the least.

Lack of Offense

Not a whole lot of offense from this team that has been pouring on the runs as of late. But what can you do? Can’t expect to go out there and drive in nine runs per game. Although, that would be pretty nice.

Besides Rizzo’s homer, Chicago’s second hit of the evening came in the seventh inning. Their late rally resulted in three runs crossing home plate but they were unable to keep things going.

The inning started with Jason Heyward popping out. Next up was Addison Russell who was hit by a pitch only to advance to second on Almora’s walk. Russell later scored on a throwing error by former Cardinal infielder, David Freese.

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On the other side of the diamond, Jaso continued to jump all over this pitching staff. Jaso accounted for five of Pittsburgh’s eight runs. Rather than stopping at second for a double, Jaso legged out a RBI triple in the seventh.

Seems like he had enough of the Cubbies walking all over his team. He finished 4-for-4 and is the obvious choice for player of the game. The Cubs can still take the series tomorrow evening in the finale.