Chicago Cubs blow out White Sox behind dominant Jake Arrieta

Jake Arrieta was masterful on the mound and the offense broke out the lumber as the Chicago Cubs blew out the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

A four-run fifth inning capped by a three-run Anthony Rizzo double broke things open as the Crosstown Cup series shifted to Guaranteed Rate Field. The win guaranteed, at the bare minimum, a split of the four-game series between the two Chicago clubs.

Backup catcher Victor Caratini worked a solid at-bat to open the frame with a single. A Jason Heyward walk put two men on, before Kris Bryant reached on an error by third baseman Yolmer Sanchez. With the bags full, Rizzo stepped in and delivered, taking a ball off the center-field wall with a bases-clearing double.

Jon Jay, who made an incredible grab in left field early in the ballgame, followed with a single later in the frame to make it a 5-0 Cubs’ lead.

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The White Sox got a tally back in the bottom of the fifth via an Alien Hanson sac fly. After Ben Zobrist drove in a run with a sacrifice fly on his own in the sixth, rookie Yoan Moncada hit his first home run in a big-league uniform to pull the home team within a 6-2 margin.

Chicago moved a season-high six games above .500 with the victory, thanks largely to the exploits of right-hander Jake Arrieta, who pitched well yet-again. The blast marked Arrieta’s first home run allowed on an 0-2 pitch since 2011.

Cubs rough up Shields

He lasted 6 2/3 frames before giving way to Mike Montgomery. The right-hander allowed two earned on just two hits, striking out five and walking a pair.

In the top of the fourth, Kyle Schwarber delivered an RBI single to open the scoring, allowing Rizzo to score the game’s first run. The Cubs’ first baseman drove in four in the big win for the North Siders.

White Sox starter James Shields struggled yet again. Despite setting down the first two batters on just two pitches, Cubs hitters worked him hard. He gave way after surrendering the three-run double to Rizzo. His final line tagged him with three earned (five total) runs in four innings of work to go along with three walks and four punchouts.

Addison Russell smacked a solo blast in the ninth, adding the final tally of the game for the Cubs.

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What’s Next:

The Cubs go for a Crosstown Cup series victory in the finale Thursday night behind left-hander Jon Lester. The White Sox counter with Mike Pelfrey. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. CT at Guaranteed Rate Field.