June 6, 2016 Chicago Sun-Times Arrieta’s winning streak ends at 20 games in Cubs’ 3-2 loss By Toni Ginnetti Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta manages to make history with every outing, but Sunday it was for a loss. Arrieta, who had won a franchise-record 20 consecutive decisions, turned in his usual remarkable performance in a 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. That made it, as he put it, “a strange day.” “They made me show I had the ability to get in the strike zone early with the intent to get in some hitter-friendly counts,” Arrieta said. He showed the Diamondbacks he could hit the zone, striking out a season-high 12 in five innings. He was one short of his career high, set Sept. 16, 2014, against the Reds. But it led to an elevated pitch count, a shortened start and his first regular-season loss since July 25, 2015, when Phillies starter Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs. “It was a good run over the course of half a season last year and a pretty good stretch this year,” said Arrieta, who along the way threw two no-hitters and saw his team tie a franchise record with 23 consecutive wins in games he started. “We’ll get something new started.” The start of the game laid the groundwork for the strangeness that followed. Arrieta had two strikes on leadoff man Michael Bourn, but the center fielder made him throw 10 pitches before striking out. “That set the tone,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Jake had great stuff. He was electric, but give them credit. They worked good at-bats, and he still had 12 punchouts.” Relievers Trevor Cahill and Travis Wood combined for six more. The 18 in total was the most for the Cubs in a nine- inning game since Aug. 26, 1998, at Cincinnati (Kerry Wood 16, Rod Beck 2). “They did a tremendous job, but when you strike out a lot of guys, it means you throw a lot of pitches,’’ catcher Miguel Montero said. Arrieta (9-1) allowed a season-high nine hits, eight of them singles. Through five innings, he had thrown 108 pitches. But he also drove in the Cubs’ first run with an RBI double in the second, cutting their deficit to 2-1. His teammates managed only four other hits off Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin (3-5), who induced a right-handed-heavy lineup to hit grounders to third baseman Jake Lamb nine times. Javy Baez hit his fourth homer of the season in the sixth. “He’s been amazing,” Montero said of Arrieta, one of only five starting pitchers since 1900 and the first Cub to record 12 strikeouts in an outing of five innings or fewer. “What can I say? It’s hard to describe [the streak]. Obviously, Jake is human, too.’’ Arrieta’s streak almost ended in his last outing Tuesday against the Dodgers when he left after seven scoreless innings. He got a no-decision in the 5-0 loss. Arrieta is winless in his last two starts for the first time since July, as well. The loss Sunday also ended the Cubs’ four-game winning streak and concluded an 8-2 homestand. “I’m not upset,” Maddon said. “I like the fact we’re upset at losing, but an 8-2 homestand? I’ll take that all season.” So would Arrieta, who was thinking about his team, not himself. “To lose a one-run game with a chance to sweep is tough, but we’re playing really well,” he said. “We have a stretch ahead of us on the road with the ability to put quite a few more wins together, then come back and have some fun again at Wrigley.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs notes: It’s not the abode, but road bodes well By Toni Ginnetti The Cubs will play only nine more home games before the All-Star break. But as stellar as their 22-8 home record is, they’re playing nearly as well on the road (17-8). And the fan following outside Chicago has made it feel like home away from Wrigley Field. “The approach [on the road] is no different,’’ manager Joe Maddon said. “This park can be tough to hit in, too. And sometimes guys don’t mind getting away from the wind blowing in their face. “We love being here, don’t get me wrong. But we’ve learned how to do this at home and on the road.’’ The number of Cubs fans in other cities surprised Maddon at first last season but no longer. “It’s something you’re accustomed to now,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘It’s like the thing about NFL teams that travel well. I’ve seen other teams travel well when I was in Tampa. “But [this] is nice, to see the Cubbie gear everywhere — at the games, in hotels. They’re truly invested. “I know it goes beyond the U.S., the brand. It’s nice to be a part of.’’ What’s left? Since last Monday, the Cubs are in an eight-game stretch in which they’ll face six left-handed starters, including Arizona’s Patrick Corbin on Sunday and Philadelphia’s Adam Morgan on Monday. Corbin’s success against left-handed hitters (.211 in 2015 and .235 this season) had Maddon turning to a right- handed-heavy starting lineup, with Kris Bryant playing first base in place of Anthony Rizzo and Matt Szczur in right field for Jason Heyward. “It’s the perfect day to do it,’’ he said of resting Rizzo and Heyward. It also continues the practice Maddon believes in of using his full roster, not just to rest regulars but to keep bench players at the ready when called on to pinch-hit or play later in the season. “I was the 26th man on a 25-man roster in the minors, and it’s demoralizing when you’re not used,’’ Maddon said. “But beyond that, these guys are good. “If you keep [the regulars] out there because you feel you have to, you reach a point of diminishing returns. You want everyone involved, and I want everyone to feel part of the ownership.’’ Check that Maddon was ejected for the first time this season in the seventh inning when he disputed first-base umpire Tripp Gibson’s ruling that Paul Goldschmidt checked his swing, drawing a walk. “I thought he swung, and I was upset because it affected how you use the bullpen,’’ Maddon said. Instead of the inning ending, the Cubs made a pitching change to have Jason Grimm face one batter, Jake Lamb, who hit a grounder to second for the third out. Minor matters Willson Contreras, Arismendy Alcantara and Albert Almora continue their impressive play at Class AAA Iowa. Catcher Contreras is hitting .335 with 39 RBI and four stolen bases. Infielder Alcantara is hitting .268 and leads the Pacific Coast League with 20 stolen bases, including four in the team’s 4-0 victory Saturday against Memphis. Outfielder Almora is hitting .322 overall and .417 (10-for-24) in his last six games. -- Daily Herald Maddon says he didn't 'outmanage' Chip Hale By Bruce Miles It may have seemed that Cubs manager Joe Maddon outmanaged Arizona counterpart Chip Hale in Saturday's strategy-filled game, but Maddon said Sunday he doesn't see it that way. Maddon went into active-manager role in the eighth inning of Saturday's 5-3 victory, using three relief pitchers and getting his wish not to face dangerous D'backs hitter Jake Lamb. In fact, Hale pinch hit for the left-handed-hitting Lamb with right-hander Rickie Weeks against Cubs lefty Travis Wood. Weeks worked a good at-bat but finally lined out to Ben Zobrist at second base. A victory for Maddon over Hale? "The rush was just getting the third out, honestly," Maddon said. "Weeks worked a great at-bat. I really was impressed with his at-bat. When he was spitting on the sliders with two strikes, I knew this was going to be tough. But more impressive was Travis' ability to throw a strike with a full count with the bases loaded. That's pretty impressive right there. "I don't think in those terms at all (outmanaging the other guy). Chip did the right thing, what he was supposed to do, and I was just trying to do what I thought was the right thing in the moment. "I felt a guy sitting on the bench all day is at a greater disadvantage than a guy who's been playing all day. Travis is good against righties. That was just my option. Nobody got outmanaged yesterday. Travis threw a strike. Their guys hits a line drive. Zobrist just happened to be standing there. That's what happened." Let's have some fun: The Cubs took off for Philadelphia after Sunday's game decked out in NBA-style warm-up suits. It's all part of Joe Maddon's attempt at keeping the game fun. "That's the 12-year-old in me, man, too," he said. "I hope I never grow up. First of all, we are playing a game. Too many times, people consider this more of a life or death moment, and it's not. So I don't want our guys to ever feel that way; I want them to go out there and play the game and not be afraid of making mistakes. And I want them to have joy in showing up at the ballpark.