CHICAGO (AP) Patrick Corbin knew what he was up against, with the Diamondbacks trying to snap Jake Arrieta’s historic win streak and avoid a sweep by the major league-leading Cubs.
The left-hander did his part, pitching seven solid innings, and Arizona beat Chicago 3-2 Sunday despite tying a franchise record by striking out 18 times.
”Everyone knows about his (Arrieta’s) story,” Corbin said. ”It’s tough to go out there and face a guy like that. It’s going to be tough. The team got a couple of runs early, which helped, and was able to keep them off the board just enough.”
Corbin (3-5) led Arizona to its second victory in seven games. He gave up two runs and five hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Arrieta’s franchise-record winning streak ended at 20 games.
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner had gone 24 regular-season starts without a loss since Cole Hamels pitched a no-hitter for Philadelphia at Wrigley Field on July 25. Arrieta did lose to the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series last season and was 2-1 in the playoffs.
Arrieta (9-1) lasted five innings this time, allowing three runs and nine hits. He threw 108 pitches and struck out a season-high 12 while walking one.
The Cubs lost for only the second time in 12 games and finished 8-2 on their homestand. Both losses came in starts by Arrieta after they won 23 in a row with him on the mound.
”Obviously, Jake is a human. He’s going to give it up sometimes,” catcher Miguel Montero said.
Arrieta, however, had been unbeatable during a streak that placed him among the game’s best. The 20 consecutive winning decisions tied him with Roger Clemens (1998-99) for third-most in the majors since 1913.
”Well, it was a good run,” Arrieta said.
The Diamondbacks took a patient approach at the plate and wound up with hits nine of the 10 times they put the ball in play against Arrieta.
Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth for Arizona, and Brad Ziegler worked the ninth for his 39th consecutive save and 11th this season. He walked pinch-hitter Anthony Rizzo with two outs before retiring Montero on a groundout.
Chris Hermann had three hits and scored a run for Arizona. Yasmany Tomas hit a two-run double and Paul Goldschmidt added an RBI single as the Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep.
Javier Baez hit a solo homer for Chicago in the sixth. Cubs manager Joe Maddon was ejected for the first time this season in the seventh after Trevor Cahill walked Goldschmidt on a 3-2 pitch with two outs.
The Cubs thought Goldschmidt swung and appealed to first base umpire Tripp Gibson. When Goldschmidt was awarded first, Cahill threw his arms up in disgust and Maddon came out to argue.
THROWING STRIKES
Arrieta became the fifth pitcher since 1900 to record 12 or more strikeouts in an outing of five innings or less, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The others were San Diego’s Andrew Cashner (June 1, 2015, against the Mets), Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb (May 10, 2013, against the Padres), the Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Greinke (Sept. 25, 2012, against Seattle) and the Rays’ Chris Archer (April 13, 2016, against Toronto).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Arizona hopes to activate OF David Peralta (right wrist inflammation) from the disabled list on Monday, though manager Chip Hale said the team would give Peralta an extra day or two if he needs it. Peralta was to play his final rehab game for Triple-A Reno on Sunday. … Hale said he got a good report on Shelby Miller (sprained right index finger) after the right-hander threw five scoreless innings in an extended spring game Saturday.
Cubs: Chicago got a scare in the first inning when Jorge Soler crumpled to the ground after being hit in the right foot by a pitch. He stayed down for a few minutes while being tended to but remained in the game. … Chicago held Rizzo and OF Jason Heyward out of the starting lineup, giving them some rest.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-4, 4.74 ERA) starts the opener of a nine-game homestand against Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (3-7, 4.75).
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