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WP: Zach Davies (11-7)
LP: Jake Arrieta (17-7)
HR: Chris Coghlan (6), Ryan Braun 2 (29,30), Domingo Santana (9), Chris Carter (35)
Jake Arrieta has been able to dominate most teams this season, but the one team he hasn’t had much success against is the Brewers.
It started out looking like it would be an easy win for the Cubs. Zach Davies gave up three runs in the first inning on a Kris Bryant RBI tripe and a two-run Chris Coghlan home run. That was all that Davies allowed, though the Cubs made him work all day. He only lasted five innings, allowing three runs, seven hits, and a walk, with just five strikeouts.
On the other side, Jake Arrieta started off strong. He allowed just a walk and a hit through the first three innings. The Brewers broke through in the fourth inning, getting a run on a fielding error, wild pitch, and RBI single. Arrieta got back on track, getting out of the fourth and through a clean fifth. In the sixth, Jonathan Villar started off with a walk and a steal, then a ground-rule double from Scooter Gennett drove Villar in and decreased the lead to 3-2. Ryan Braun was up next, and he hit his 29th home run of the season the give the Brewers a 4-3 lead.
Arrieta finished the sixth, but that was it for him. He finished the day with four runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts. In three starts against the Brewers this season, he has allowed ten runs (nine earned), ten hits, fifteen walks, three home runs, and struck out fourteen in 16.2 innings. His ERA against the Brewers this season is 4.86, highest of any NL opponent.
With a 4-3 lead, that’s was all the Brewers needed today. Jhan Marinez, Corey Knebel, Jacob Barnes, and Rob Scahill each pitched an inning, allowing just a hit and a run total, with each recording a strikeout.
The offense didn’t take any chances, though. After a scoreless inning by Trevor Cahill, Carl Edwards Jr. came in. Scooter Gennett led off with a double, then Ryan Braun hit a two-run home run to increase the lead to 6-3. After two strikeouts, Domingo Santana added a solo home run to up the lead to 7-3.
Going into the ninth inning, the Cubs sent in Spencer Patton. After a flyout from Martin Maldonado, Manny Pina and Jonathan Villar walked, then Scooter Gennett was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Braun didn’t have a third home run on the day, but Chris Carter took the opportunity to hit one. A grand slam to left field cleared the bases and provided the final 11-3 margin.
The Brewers have a chance to take the series from the Cubs tomorrow. They’ll send Wily Peralta (5.42 ERA, 5.08 FIP) out to face Kyle Hendricks (2.03 ERA, 3.38 FIP). First pitch is at 1:20 pm.