Nine-run 8th powers Cardinals past Cubs

Jul 19 2017 Atlanta GA USA Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Mike Montgomery hits a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Sun Trust Park
Cubs sweep Braves for sixth straight win
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22 July, 2017

Will the Cubs stay hot and beat the Cardinals when the rivals open a new series at 2:20PM ET on Friday afternoon?

Arrieta makes his 20th start of the season but only his seventh at home.

Cubs starter Jake Arrieta scattered two runs on five hits but received a no-decision. In addition to the offense going 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine base runners, a bullpen that had been incredibly reliable fell apart in can't-look-away fashion. He has had some very dominant starts and surrendered just three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings the last time he faced them.

"When the ball came out of my hand I felt it pull in the upper lat area", Logan said after the game. "It's weird. But it is what it is".

Javier Baez hit a three-run homer in the eighth for Chicago, which hasn't lost since the All-Star break.

Chicago trailed the first-place Milwaukee Brewers by 5.5 games in the National League Central standings at the break.

Even playing without third baseman Kris Bryant, who, Maddon said could miss this weekend's series with soreness in the finger he sprained during a head-first slide Wednesday, the Cubs appeared headed for their seventh straight victory.

What fed the Cardinals' rally in the eighth inning was simply walks. Ben Zobrist roped a first-inning single up the middle against Martinez, and two batters later Willson Contreras drilled a two-run homer.

"Today would have been a great opportunity to win this series", Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter said. He gave up four hits and three walks while striking out three in the ballgame.

If the Cubs can take care of business in this three-game set, they could easily take the lead in the division and knock the Cardinals far down the totem pole. The Cardinals tied the game on back-to-back two-out doubles by Tommy Pham and Dexter Fowler in the third inning. With Carlos Martinez set to face Jake Arrieta in the pitching matchup, the over/under now sits at 8.5 runs. We had a bad inning pitching.

He gets the White Sox at home next. But the Cubs couldn't extend their lead when Jason Heyward grounded out.

"I trust our guys", Maddon said, reacting to Friday's nightmarish eighth.

Bryant doubled to center field off R.A. Dickey in the first inning. It's a tight race and since they'll need to pass the Cubs at some point, a win on Friday against that team is exactly what they needed.

"That's what you get when you play these kinds of teams that have a shot to reach the postseason", Arrieta said.


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