United Group Insurance

Cardinals beat Arrieta, Cubs 7-2 to complete 3-game sweep

Sports

June 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Wacha pitched into the seventh inning for his first win in nearly two months and the St. Louis Cardinals waited out Jake Arrieta before roughing up Chicago’s bullpen in a 7-2 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday.

Aledmys Diaz hit a two-run home run, and Matt Carpenter had a two-run double in a five-run sixth after Arrieta (11-2) departed. The Cardinals won their eighth straight road game — their longest streak since 1982 — and completed their first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field since 1988.

Arrieta was charged with two runs — one earned — and four hits in five innings as he struggled with control (four walks) and pitch count (106). Wacha (3-7) allowed two hits until rookie Willson Contreras’ one-out, two-run homer in the seventh ended his day as he snapped a seven-game skid. Contreras replaced Miguel Montero an inning earlier after the catcher twisted his right knee.