Chicago Cubs duplicate series opener performance in win over Padres

It has been a great ride for the North Siders and tonight’s game in San Diego was no different. Joe Maddon‘s Chicago Cubs pretty much duplicated last night’s offensive performance to help their Ace win his 16th game of the year.

In case you missed last night’s game, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, and Jason Heyward all went deep to take Monday’s series opener. Chicago’s (80-45) offense managed to rebound from Sunday’s embarrassing 11-4 loss and continued to swing the bat well late Tuesday evening in California.

With right-hander Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.62 ERA) on the mound, the 30-year-old reigning Cy Young winner was chasing another milestone. He became the first National League pitcher to hit 16 wins while lowering his ERA at the same time.

Jake entered the evening with an earned run average of 2.75. Maddon’s workhorse cruised through eight innings of work, holding the Padres to two hits, three walks, and six strikeouts.

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Not to mention, Arrieta recorded his third career triple on what should have been a routine flyball out in right field. Instead, Patrick Kivlehan failed to record the out. Kivlehan made a sliding attempt, resulting in the ball bouncing off the tip of his glove and rolling the other way.

On the offensive side of the diamond, the young bucks continued to flex their muscles. First, it was Kris Bryant who hammered his 33rd home run of the season out to left field, giving Jake an early 1-0 lead.

Kris swatted a solo homer in last night’s win and tied Nolan Arenado for the lead in the National League tonight. And then you have shortstop Addison Russell. Russell has been absolutely red-hot for the North Siders as of late hitting four homers in four games until tonight.

Of course, the young infielder went deep for the fifth time in five games — hitting a two-run homer to left field. This made it a 4-0 ballgame after Ben Zobrist‘s RBI double moments before Russell took Christian Friedrich deep.

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San Diego (53-73) did not have much offense tonight, recording just four hits. Two of which came off Arrieta before the bullpen took over in the ninth. Felix Pena was called on the mound to lock up Chicago’s 80th win of the year.

Pena walked the first batter he faced and gave up a single to Adam Rosales. As a result, the Padres scored their first run of the evening on a single. Forcing Joe to summon his closer, Aroldis Chapman.

Now that the save was on the line for Chapman, Aroldis went to work. Despite another San Diego run scoring on a sacrifice fly, Chapman recorded his 28th save of the year. But not without a little drama.