The Chicago Cubs continued their winning ways by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 in a Thursday afternoon game at Wrigley Field. Jake Arrieta took the mound for Chicago and gave up a first inning hit to lead-off hitter Jonathan Villar, ending speculation about a second straight no-hitter.
Arrieta (5-0, 1.00 ERA) went five innings and gave up one run in the top of the fifth inning, also ending his scoreless innings streak at 52 2/3 innings, the second-longest in major league history.
Arrieta did not have his best stuff as he walked four batters and threw 92 pitches in just five innings. But the Cubs’ ace earned the win. His earned run average for the young season is 1.00.
The Cubs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a single by Ben Zobrist that scored Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo.
More from Chicago Cubs News
- Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
- Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
- Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
- Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
- Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
David Ross hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the 2nd inning. In the Cubs’ third inning, Chicago used a pair of doubles to figure in the scoring as two runs came in.
Kris Bryant singled and Anthony Rizzo doubled to drive Bryant home. Tommy La Stella also doubled to score Rizzo. The Cubs had a 5-0 lead in the last of the third and were not threatened.
Chicago loaded the bases in the fifth and sixth innings but only managed two fielder choices in the infield to score two more runs.
Milwaukee played sloppily. Their pitchers walked 11 batters, they made two errors and one wild pitch. It all added to an easy win for the Cubs who now go to 16-5 for the young season. It is the best start for the Cubbies since 1907, and that is literally, back in the day.
Next: Injury bug nips at Montero, Bryant
Jonathan Villar was the batting star for Milwaukee, getting three base hits, and walking once. He scored twice in the game.
Chicago also had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning with runners on first and second with one out but did not score a run. Jason Hammel appeared as a pinch-hitter but struck out. Matt Szczur flew out to end the inning.
Jon Lester goes to the mound for the Cubs on Friday.