Chicago Cubs: Jake Arrieta allows just two hits, Anthony Rizzo homers

The Chicago Cubs made it five-straight wins on Tuesday night, thanks to a dominant Jake Arrieta and a three-run homer from Anthony Rizzo.

In the bottom of the seventh Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs blew things wide open with six insurance runs and that proved to be more than enough as the North Siders topped the Miami Marlins by a 10-2 margin.

Two innings prior, the Cubs pushed across their first four runs of the night. With two away, Jon Jay drew a walk and soon after, advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kris Bryant drew a walk of his own, setting up the three-run blast off the bat of Rizzo. The Cubs’ first baseman has dominated Miami starter Jeff Locke over his career – and Tuesday proved to be no different.

Chicago (30-27) added one more in the fifth after an error allowed Willson Contreras to reach and Jason Heyward drove him in with a base hit.

But the big story on Tuesday was Jake Arrieta. The hurler was lights-out. He allowed just two hits – a first inning Giancarlo Stanton single – and a seventh-inning triple. Arrieta struck out five and walked three. He was able to overcome a lengthy first inning in which he tossed roughly 30 pitches, turning in one of his best starts of the year.

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Miami (24-33) jumped out to an early lead in the first on a J.T. Realmuto grounder to short. Had Addison Russell fielded it smoothly, the team may have been able to turn two. However, a clunky turn plated the Marlins’ first run of the night.

Don Mattingly‘s club added another run in the seventh. After Realmuto tripled to chase Arrieta, Brian Duensing entered to face J.T. Riddle. A Russell error allowed the Marlins catcher to score, cutting the Cubs’ lead to 4-2.

Pedro Strop entered, inducing a double play for the first two outs of the frame. The right-hander then struck out Ichiro Suzuki to end the inning, ending the threat in the seventh.

Double your pleasure, double your fun

Rizzo didn’t stop with just the homer. In the bottom of the seventh, an RBI single got that run right back, giving Chicago a three-run cushion late in the ballgame. Heyward, not to be outdone, doubled to score Rizzo. The outfielder racked up three hits on the night.

If there were any lingering doubts about the Cubs’ bats, Javier Baez added a double of his own – the team’s third of the inning – to score two more runs. After Ian Happ drew a walk, Jon Jay doubled, as well – making it a 10-2 ballgame.

Next: Cubs' bullpen just keeps chugging along

What’s Next:

John Lackey takes the ball for Chicago in Wednesday night’s finale at Wrigley Field. He will be opposed by Miami right-hander Jose Urena. The Cubs take aim at eight-straight wins at Wrigley Field, dating back to the team’s last homestand.

First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CT.