Cubs Recap: Jake Arrieta records his 19th win in Game 1 vs Phillies

Bryant sets franchise RBI record for rookies

Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta was tagged early, but he managed to settle in as his offense backed him up to record win No. 19 in Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

After starting off the game with two strikeouts and retiring the first two batter’s during the bottom half of the second, rookie outfielder Aaron Altherr launched his third big league homer to left-center field.

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Altherr jumped all over a 92 miles per hour slider with two outs to give the Phillies (54-87) a one-run lead. Young southpaw Adam Morgan (5-6, 4.60 ERA) sailed through this dangerous Cubs (81-58) line up early, having struck out Kris Bryant twice in his first two at-bats.

Morgan exited the game after five innings of work and allowed the Cubs to grab the lead during the fifth inning on a couple of two-out RBI doubles off the bat of Austin Jackson and Kris Bryant.

Bryant followed behind Jackson to push him across to score and set the franchise rookie RBI record with his 87th of the season. He passed up both Billy Williams (1961) and Geovany Soto (2008) who were tied with 61 apiece.

Soto was with the North Siders in their last run to the postseason.

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Shortstop Addison Russell broke things wide open with the bases-loaded full of Cubs during the top of the sixth inning.

Both Javier Baez and Starlin Castro reached on back-to-back singles to open up the frame then Arrieta followed up Ross’s strikeout with a walk to load up the bags.

Russell turned on the first pitch of the at-bat delivered by Hector Neris, sending it to left field to make it a 4-1 ball game. Addison stopped at second base while Arrieta was held at third with Dexter Fowler due up next.

Fowler reached on a fielder’s chose that had Russell caught up in a run-down and Jackson ended the inning by lining out to the second baseman Cesar Hernandez.

Starlin Castro continued to add run support for his veteran right-hander by swatting his eighth home run of the season to right-center field which made it 5-1 in favor of the visiting team.

Arrieta (19-6, 1.99 ERA) held the Phillies to one earned run on six hits while issuing two walks and recording seven strikeouts across eight innings of work prior to handing things over to his bullpen.

Justin Grimm entered the game but gave up a one-out single before slamming the door on Philadelphia.

Next: Examining back-end of starting rotation