Chicago Cubs: Arrieta, Rizzo stay hot, Cubs beat Blue Jays

Jake Arrieta stayed hot on the mound and Anthony Rizzo scorching from the batter’s box, as the Chicago Cubs knocked off the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4.

Starter Jake Arrieta pitched up to his August par, and the Chicago Cubs knocked off the Toronto Blue Jays Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field 7-4. The club bounced back in a big way after splitting a four-game set with Cincinnati this week.

Stayin’ hot

As the Cubs seek wins down the stretch, Arrieta continues to rise to the occasion. Jake went 6 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and struck out six. He improves to 13-8 on the season and has an ERA of 3.63.

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While Steve Pearce started the scoring for the day, knocking Justin Smoak home in the first inning, it was the Cubs who did most of the damage.

The Cubs countered during the bottom second with two of their own — Jason Heyward reached as no one was covering first for the Jays. Javier Baéz got a ball down right in front of José Bautista in right field as the Cubs went ahead 2-1.

Anthony Rizzo stayed white-hot with two more RBI. That’s 12 now during the homestand.

J.A. Happ went five innings and surrendered five earned runs on nine hits. He struck out eight and walked two. It was his first outing since July 28 he allowed more than an earned run.

Helping hand

Carl Edwards Jr., his struggles well-documented of late, entered with two on and one out, but stranded runners including striking out Bautista in the 7th. Pedro Strop allowed four consecutive two-out hits in the 8th, including a Kevin Pillar RBI double.

Miguel Montero entered the day 3-for-39 as a Blue Jay and was 2-for-4 Friday. He also caught Ben Zobrist stealing third. Another former Cub Darwin Barney was 0-for-2. Victor Caratini was 3-for-3 to raise his average to .268.

Baez’s 20th home run in the eighth tied a Cubs franchise record of five players with at least 20 home runs.

Wade Davis converted his 25th consecutive save opportunity. He pitched a perfect ninth, getting nifty sprawling defense by Baez on Bautista, and struck out Josh Donaldson to end it.

Next: Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease beginning White Sox careers

What’s next

Saturday features the second game of the series. José Quintana (7-10, 4.33 ERA) will pitch for Chicago against Nick Tepesch (1-2, 5.25 ERA) for Toronto.

First pitch from Wrigley Field is 1:20 pm C.T.