Arrieta takes perfect game into seventh, Cubs win 7-3

Jake Arrieta threw six innings of perfect baseball before allowing a hit to start the seventh, and the Cubs offense gave him the needed support as the Chicago Cubs (31-43) defeated the Cincinnati Reds (38-38) 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Anthony Rizzo hit his 17th home run of the season to help back Arrieta (4-1, 2.05) as the Cubs evened the series with the Reds going into tomorrow night’s series finale.

Reds starter Homer Bailey (7-4, 4.80) was as equally impressive through the first three until innings allowing the Rizzo home run. Control issues would chase him from the game in sixth. After a lead-off walk to Arrieta, Bailey got Chris Coghlan to strike out. Then a walk to Junior Lake, followed by a Rizzo single loaded the bases. He then hit Castro on the hand to force in another run before being replaced.

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After spending much of the sixth inning on the bases, Arrieta seems to have lost his sharpness in the seventh. Following the lead-off single by Billy Hamilton to break up the perfect game, Arrieta would later allow a single to Devin Mesoraco followed by a double to Jay Bruce as the Reds broke up the shutout as well.

The Cubs, after Arrieta exited, used five relievers, four in the eighth inning alone to close out the game. Neil Ramirez closed out the ninth, although not cleanly, allowing Mesoraco to homer in his fifth straight game.

The Cubs look to take the series on Wednesday night as Edwin Jackson (5-7, 5.12) faces Mat Latos (0-0, 3.86). The game is scheduled for a 6:05 pm CT first pitch.