Chicago Cubs News: Homers back Jake Arrieta in 8-2 win over the Pirates

The Chicago Cubs followed up their two-game losing streak with a two-game winning streak after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by the final score of 8-2 Saturday afternoon. Jake Arrieta was backed by two homers.

Arrieta worked through eight solid innings of work, holding the Pirates to two earned runs on three hits and struck out 11 batters. On top of picking up his seventh win of the season, Jake tied Lefty Grove as the Cubs have won 21 of his previous starts.

New York Yankees and Houston Astros great, Roger Clemens, is now behind them with 20. Having the Cubs on the winning side of things, again, feels good. The Cubs are now 27-8 on the year and have an opportunity to complete the sweep, later on, today.

Southpaw Jon Lester will pick up the start for the Cubs while Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the visiting team.

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Hopefully, the offense will back him up with a few big hits like they did for Jason Hammel and Arrieta over the first two games of this season.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo smashed a towering three-run homer to deep right field in the fourth and shortstop Addison Russell cranked his fourth home run of the season to left later on in the sixth inning.

Hammel was backed up with three home runs in his outing, one came off the bat of veteran catcher David Ross. A three-run homer that really busted things wide open for the Cubs who now have themselves a nine-game lead in the National League Central.

As soon as today’s game goes final, the Cubbies will hop on the bus and travel up north to take on the Milwaukee Brewers before flying out to California.

Chicago will find themselves squaring off against two former Cubs in Jeff Samardzija and outfielder Angel Pagan. San Francisco is tied for first place in their division with a 21-18 record.

Now here are a few stories you may have missed.

‘Cubs cruise to series win over the Bucs‘

‘Three reasons the Cubs are better than 2015‘

‘Putting a price tag on Arrieta‘

‘Reds fall to Phillies in heartbreaking fashion‘ – Blog Red Machine

‘Dodgers 5, Cardinals 3: Great Scott!‘ – Dodgers Way

The Chicago Cubs followed up their two-game losing streak with a two-game winning streak after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by the final score of 8-2 Saturday afternoon. Jake Arrieta was backed by two homers.

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