June 6, 2016

Chicago Sun-Times Arrieta’s winning streak ends at 20 games in Cubs’ 3-2 loss By Toni Ginnetti

Cubs 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 since 1900 and the first Cub to record 12 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.”

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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.

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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.

"I've been involved in the past where it's not fun to come to a ballpark. And that's wrong. That is absolutely wrong. More often than not, that was created by people in charge and not by the players themselves. So for me to be responsible to have anybody in that room to not want to come to a major-league ballpark would be awful, absolutely awful."

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Daily Herald Miles: Arrieta losing is just part of Cubs' weird day By Bruce Miles

Sunday was some kind of strange day at Wrigley Field.

First, Jake Arrieta suffered the loss for the , and that news itself would be enough strangeness for one day.

Arrieta struck out 12 batters but he lasted just 5 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Here's a sampling of the general weirdness:

• Arrieta struck out three batters in each of the first two innings but trailed 2-0. In the second, he gave up 3 hits to start the inning, including a 2-run double to Yasmany Tomas, before striking out the next three batters.

• Cubs pitchers struck out 18, the most by a Cubs team in a nine-inning game since Kerry Wood (16) and Rod Beck (2) teamed for 18 on Aug. 26, 1998 at Cincinnati. Of the 17 balls put into play by the D'Backs, 10 went for hits.

• Arrieta had tremendous life on his pitches, but with the high number and deep counts, he ran his pitch count to 108 over 5 innings.

• Manager Joe Maddon got ejected from the game just by stepping out of the dugout in the seventh inning to argue a checked-swing call.

• The Cubs finished the homestand 8-2, but both losses came during Arrieta starts.

So ended a breathtaking run for Arrieta, who had not lost a regular-season decision since last July 25, when the Phillies' Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs. For this season, Arrieta's record dropped to 9-1 with a 1.80 ERA.

"Everything they put in play seemed to be a basehit," Arrieta said. "The double to Tomas, it was 96 (mph) with some sink off the plate in. He did a good job of keeping his hands in and putting a good swing on it. Just a strange day all the way around."

About his long streak coming to an end, Arrieta was philosophical.

"It was a good run," he said. "Over the course of a half a season last year or so, and a pretty good stretch this year. So, get something new started."

Catcher Miguel Montero echoed that.

"It's amazing," Montero said of Arrieta's streak. "What can I say? It's hard to describe that because it was a heck of a run. Hopefully he starts a new one coming up next start."

The tone for this one was set with the first batter of the game, as Michael Bourn struck out, but in doing so, he worked Arrieta for 10 pitches. Arrieta's inning-by-inning pitch counts were 26, 25, 15, 16 and 26.

In keeping with the strangeness of the day, the D'Backs picked up only 1 run on 5 hits in the fifth, as they had two runners thrown out on the bases.

Arrieta's RBI double to center field gave the Cubs a run in the second, and Javier Baez homered in the sixth, but that's all the Cubs could get off Arizona starter Patrick Corbin and the bullpen.

Cubs relievers Trevor Cahill, Justin Grimm, Travis Wood and Adam Warren held the D'Backs at bay.

Maddon was ordered to leave the premises by plate umpire Tripp Gibson in the seventh after it looked like Paul Goldschmidt struck out against Cahill. But umpires ruled Goldschmidt checked his swing, sending the Cubs' bench into an uproar. At that point, Maddon removed Cahill in favor of Grimm, something he wouldn't have had to do if the call went the other way.

"That was kind of like one of those real on-the-cusp kind of things because I really thought he swung," Maddon said. "I don't think there was any question about it, even from behind him. My biggest concern there was how to use the bullpen. I explained that to him (Gibson). I said, 'Do you know what you just did?' He really made it difficult to use the bullpen for the rest of the game by not doing the right thing by calling him out."

The Cubs had a shot in the ninth. Anthony Rizzo, who got most of the day off, walked with two outs as a pinch hitter. But Montero grounded out to first base to end the game.

"That's all you'd ever ask for there, too," Maddons said, referring to a fighting chance. "There's no quit in our group."

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Cubs.com Snake bitten: D-backs end Arrieta's streak By Cody Stavenhagen and Steve Gilbert

CHICAGO -- Yasmany Tomas hit a two-run double that served as the key blow against Jake Arrieta as Patrick Corbin and the D-backs beat the Cubs, 3-2, on Sunday at Wrigley Field, marking Arrieta's first loss since July 25, 2015.

"They had a pretty good approach," Arrieta said. "They made me show that I had the ability to throw strikes or get in the strike zone early, with the intent to get in some hitter-friendly counts. Pitch count got up. It was just a strange day overall. Everything they put in play seemed to be a base hit."

Arrieta struck out a season-high 12 D-backs hitters in five innings, but threw 108 pitches and surrendered nine hits, also a season high. Arizona went 9-for-10 on balls in play to get the run support needed to back Corbin's strong seven innings in a matchup with the reigning Cy Young Award winner.

"Everybody knows about his story there and it's always tough to go out there and face a guy like that," Corbin said of Arrieta. "The team got a couple of runs early, which helped and I was able to keep them off the board just enough. You know it's going to be a tough battle for our hitters. I still need to go out there and focus on what I'm doing, and that's something I was able to do today."

Arizona did most of its damage in the second, when Chris Herrmann and Chris Owings reached with seeing-eye singles before Tomas inside-outed an Arrieta sinker for the two-run double to the right-field gap. The D-backs tacked another run in the fifth, when Paul Goldschmidt singled to score Michael Bourn.

Corbin held the Cubs to five hits and did not walk a batter while striking out five in the win.

The loss ended a streak of 20 consecutive winning decisions for Arrieta, trailing only Carl Hubbell's 24 in 1936-37 and Roy Face's 22 in 1958-59 for the most in baseball history. The Cubs ended their 10-game homestand 8-2, losing back-to-back Arrieta starts for the first time since May of last season.

"I like the fact that were upset that we lost," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I love that. None of the guys accept that. But 8-2 homestand? I think we'll take that the rest of the summer."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Running it up: Though they swung and missed a lot, fanning 18 times in total, the D-backs also managed to run up Arrieta's pitch count. It started from the first batter of the game, when leadoff man Bourn had a 10-pitch at-bat. When all was said and done, Arrieta could not go past the fifth inning.

"The only good thing, I thought early, even with the strikeouts, we were making him throw a bunch of pitches," D- backs manager Chip Hale said. "It wasn't just three pitches. Later on, he was really hitting that outside corner, bringing it back. It's one of those pitches you can't even reach. You kind of give up on it. He's one of the best one, two or three pitchers in either league."

Power pitcher: Arrieta did his best to help himself in the second inning. With the Cubs trailing, 2-0, Arrieta hit a high fly ball to deep center with Miguel Montero on first. D-backs center fielder Bourn jumped at the wall, but the ball fell out of his glove and onto the warning track. Arrieta ended up with an RBI double.

Work pays off: Corbin worked with pitching coach Mike Butcher on some mechanical adjustments with his during his between-starts bullpen session. After focusing on developing his changeup this spring, the D-backs felt Corbin used it too much in his last start at the expense of his sharp slider.

"Just tried to get back to my strengths, something I feel like we've gotten away from a little bit," Corbin said. "So just tried to attack the strike zone, work ahead and get some early outs and be aggressive and be able to use my slider and get some swings."

Maddon gets early shower: Maddon was ejected with two outs in the seventh for arguing a check-swing call. Cubs right-hander Trevor Cahill had a 3-2 count on Goldschmidt. Cahill threw a changeup in the dirt, and though Goldschmidt appeared to go around for strike three and Cubs players began heading for the dugout, umpires ruled Goldschmidt checked his swing, and he was awarded a walk. With his team trailing, 3-2, Maddon came out to argue with first-base umpire Tripp Gibson and also talked to home-plate umpire Gabe Morales. After Maddon was ejected, Justin Grimm replaced Cahill on the mound.

"I really thought he swung," Maddon said. "I don't think there was any question about it, even from behind him. My biggest question was, 'Now I have to use the bullpen.'"

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The 18 strikeouts tied a D-backs record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Arizona also fanned 18 times against the Padres on April 25, 2007.

Arrieta is one of five pitchers since 1974 to strike out 11 batters in the first four innings of a game. The others are Alex Cobb, Zack Greinke, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan. He is also the fifth pitcher since 1900 to strike out 12 or more batters in an outing of five innings or fewer.

HOW CAN I BE OF ASSISTANCE?

The nine assists by Jake Lamb tied a D-backs record for most assists in nine-inning game by a third baseman and was two shy of the Major League mark. Lamb, who has had some issues defensively in the first two games of the series, was solid with the glove Sunday. What Hale like most was that Lamb's 0-for-5 three strikeout day was not a factor.

"He had as good of a defensive game as you can have over there at third," Hale said. "That just shows you, guys aren't taking their at-bats out into the field. That was impressive."

WHAT'S NEXT

D-backs: The D-backs return home Monday to open a three-game series with the Rays and a nine-game homestand. Left-hander Robbie Ray will get the start for the D-backs at 6:40 p.m. MST. It will be his first career start against the Rays.

Cubs: Jon Lester looks to follow up on his latest complete-game start against the Dodgers when he opens a three- game series Monday against the Phillies at 6:05 p.m. CT at Citizens Bank Park.

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Cubs.com Arrieta's 'strange day': 12 K's over 5, defeat By Cody Stavenhagen

CHICAGO -- Only minutes removed from his first regular-season loss since July 25, 2015, Jake Arrieta sat down and answered questions like nothing happened.

Without context to his statements, you might not know the Cubs' 3-2 loss to the D-backs on Sunday snapped a streak of 20 consecutive Arrieta decisions without a loss, the longest in Cubs history and the third-longest in baseball since at least 1913.

It also might be hard to tell that this loss came despite Arrieta striking out 12 batters in five innings, making him only the fifth pitcher since 1900 to fan 12 or more in five innings or fewer.

"That's one of the things you deal with in this game sometimes, is things like that," Arrieta said, calm and composed as ever.

If anyone is aware of his own mortality, it is Arrieta, the man who went from a back-of-the-rotation pitcher with the Orioles to the undisputed best pitcher on the best team in baseball.

As he proved Sunday, with both his strikeouts and his composure, Arrieta dazzles even in defeat.

"It was just a strange day overall," Arrieta said.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon called Arrieta's stuff Sunday "electric." Catcher Miguel Montero said Arrieta's pitches were moving so wickedly in warmups that Arrieta, "probably didn't know where the ball was going."

But the D-backs beat Arrieta by working long at-bats. Michael Bourn started the game by seeing 10 pitches. By the conclusion of the fifth, Arrieta had thrown 108. Maddon called that "about as far as you want to take it."

Arizona got two runs in the second, when Chris Herrmann and Chris Owings reached on seeing-eye singles and Yasmany Tomas drove them in by inside-outing a 96-mph inside sinker to the right-field gap for a double.

The third run came in the fifth, on a Paul Goldschmidt single, one of nine hits and eight singles the D-backs had against Arrieta. Those nine hits came on their first 10 balls in play, the rest of the order succumbing to strikeouts. Arrieta walked only one batter.

"That's the freaky part about this game," Maddon said. "It's what makes it so wonderful."

To add to the oddity, the Cubs finished their 10-game homestand 8-2, with both losses coming in Arrieta starts, the first time the Cubs have lost back-to-back Arrieta outings since May of last season.

Had Arrieta earned a win, it would have made him only the fifth pitcher in the past 75 years to win 10 games in the first 12 starts of a season.

Arrieta did his due diligence with the 12 K's and even an RBI double in the second inning, but he didn't walk away the winner. Instead, he dressed in a blue track suit reading "Snake" on the back, part of the team's latest theme road trip, and left the Cubs' clubhouse quietly, on to his next start.

"It was a good run. … We'll get something new started," he said.

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Cubs.com Maddon ejected for arguing check-swing call By Cody Stavenhagen

CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon didn't like the call.

It was hard not to, when Paul Goldschmidt appeared to take an almost-full swing on a full-count changeup in the dirt from Trevor Cahill in the seventh inning. In a 3-2 loss to the D-backs on Sunday, Goldschmidt was ruled to have checked his swing, resulting in a walk that got Maddon's mind racing -- and got him ejected.

"I was really upset based on two things," Maddon said. "One, I really thought he swung, absolutely -- and two, I was thinking about the bullpen."

The walk meant Maddon needed to pull Trevor Cahill, who had thrown 33 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. It also threw off Maddon's plan for the rest of the close game.

So Maddon stepped out of the dugout, asking "What happened?"

He argued with first-base umpire Tripp Gibson and talked with home-plate umpire Gabe Morales. The end result was Maddon getting tossed for the first time this season.

"I said [to Gibson], 'Do you know what you just did?'" Maddon said. "It really made it difficult to use the bullpen for the rest of the game, by not doing the right thing and calling him out. Then [Justin Grimm] could have started the next inning. One hitter, then you have to get him out. All this stuff happened because that was not called."

Grimm got the final out in the seventh, then the Cubs used Travis Wood for 1 1/3 and Adam Warren for two-thirds of an inning to finish the game. Because the Cubs were unable to score the runs needed to take the lead, the walk and bullpen situation was ultimately inconsequential.

But it was enough to upset Maddon, who said the following when jokingly asked if he went out to tell Gibson he loved him.

"Tripp's a good dude, but I'm not there yet with him," Maddon said. "I haven't known him long enough."

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Cubs.com Wood giving Cubs solid lefty in bullpen By Cody Stavenhagen

CHICAGO -- Travis Wood knew he might come into the game during the eighth inning of Saturday's 5-3 Cubs win against the D-backs. He just wasn't sure who he would face.

Luckily for Wood, he did his homework. When Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought in the left-handed Wood to force the D-backs to pinch-hit for lefty Jake Lamb with two outs and the bases loaded, Wood was ready. He had looked ahead and studied other hitters, including Rickie Weeks Jr.

In the game's most important at-bat, Weeks worked Wood for eight pitches before lining out to Ben Zobrist.

Wood didn't dominate Weeks, and he was fortunate Zobrist was perfectly positioned. But he did throw a huge 3-2 strike, and thanks to the out, he continued making progress in his adjustment to a full-time role in the bullpen. "Weeks worked a great at-bat, but give Travis credit for throwing that strike," Maddon said.

Wood has been a starter for most of his seven-year career and bounced between the bullpen and rotation for the Cubs last year, finishing 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA.

This season, Wood moved to the bullpen to become a left-handed specialist. His start was rocky, with a 5.63 ERA through his first 14 appearances. But in 12 games since, Wood has allowed only one run and has a 0.71 ERA, including four innings of shutout relief Monday against the Dodgers.

With a 39-15 start entering Sunday's series finale, it's hard to find many weaknesses with the Cubs. Although left- handed relief might be one of the first areas that gets pointed to, Wood's big week is an encouraging sign.

"The ball's been coming out good," Wood said. "I've been fortunate enough to keep getting outs and haven't let anyone score. We just have to keep grinding and keep rolling."

Worth noting

• First baseman Anthony Rizzo was out of Sunday's starting lineup against the D-backs, meaning Kris Bryant started at first for only the second time this season.

"There were some times last year where [Rizzo] went through some tough moments, and a lot of that was based on fatigue," Maddon said. "I know he's 26, I know he's young, I get it. But we do play a tough schedule at home. … Resting people at home during day games, all that stuff I think is going to benefit us at the end of the season."

• The Cubs have an impressive early edge in voting for the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. Rizzo, Bryant, Addison Russell and Dexter Fowler all lead their positions, with other Cubs position players within striking distance. Add in pitchers such as Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel, who has started 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA, and the Cubs could have quite the posse.

"We can use some of our leaders in the clubhouse to pay for a private jet and we can all go together," Hammel said. "It would be nice. … It's a pretty cool personal accolade, but we just want to win."

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Cubs.com Cubs host 24 kids for PHR competition By Cody Stavenhagen

CHICAGO -- Twenty-four boys and girls ages 7 through 14 gathered at Wrigley Field at 7 a.m. CT on Sunday, and they looked upon the ivy and ran on the same field as some of their heroes.

There was a fun vibe in the air, but something at stake, too.

Wrigley Field hosted the team competition round of Scotts Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run program, where contestants competed for the chance at a trip to 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard in San Diego. "It's fun," said 14-year-old Ryan Kudia, from Brookfield, Ill. "It's competitive. But you still get to hang out. You still get to enjoy being on a field and experiencing something that might never happen again."

Contestants reached this point by advancing through local and sectional competitions. The challenge consists of a hitting-distance competition off a tee, a strike-throwing round and a timed sprint.

All 30 MLB clubs are hosting team championships at their ballparks on weekends from May 28 through June 26.

The top three competitors nationwide from each age group will advance to the national finals during All-Star Week.

Anthony Nalbuno, from Bartlett, Ill., won the 13- and 14-year-old boys' group Sunday. He said he joined the program because of a coach who told him it could be a great experience.

"You can get to the All-Star Game, but it's a great opportunity to just step on Wrigley Field and it's a great way to play baseball," Nalbono said.

Some competitors such as Ciara Herbert and Mason Gersdorf were back for their second year, and Herbert won the 13- and 14-year-old girls group for the second time. She and the other winners won't know whether they will reach the finals until after all the team rounds are complete. Herbert didn't make it last year, and though she hopes to this year, that didn't have her worried.

"You get to meet a lot of new people," said Herbert, from Riverside, Ill.. "There's no stress about winning. It's just coming out here to have fun.

Other winners were Katherine MacLeod (7-8 girls), Jessica Clemons (9-10 girls), Jordan Armbruster (11-12 girls) Gavin Burton (7-8 boys), Adam Hinkleman (9-10 boys) and Matthew Mittlestadt (11-12 boys).

At the end of the competition, Gersdorf -- from Davenport, Iowa -- turned toward Nalbono and Kudia, the two other competitors in his group, and motioned toward them.

"I met these two," Gersdorf said. "They're pretty awesome. And you're at Wrigley. When else does everybody just get to stand in left field and play baseball?"

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Cubs.com Southpaws Lester, Morgan set for series opener in Philly By Cody Stavenhagen

The Cubs and Phillies will begin a three-game series on Monday at Citizens Bank Park, with Chicago going with lefty Jon Lester and Philadelphia countering with lefty Adam Morgan.

The Cubs start the series and a nine-game road trip with the best record in baseball and growing support to back an already-loyal fan base. The Cubs entered Sunday 22-7 at home this season and 17-8 on the road.

"It's fun," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the Cubs' support on the road. "It's nice to see all the Cubbie gear and the people who are really involved at the hotels and all this kind of other stuff. And I know it goes beyond the United States. … It's really fun to be a part of."

Lester is coming off a complete-game victory against the Dodgers in which he allowed one run and struck out 10. Lester is 5-0 with a 1.71 ERA in seven career starts against the Phillies. Morgan will be looking for his second win of the season, and he has allowed 10 earned runs over nine career innings vs. the Cubs, covering two starts.

Three things to know about this game

• Phillies Manager Pete Mackanin said Ryan Howard will return from his brief sabbatical from the Phillies' lineup during the Cubs series. Tommy Joseph has started the past five games at first. Joseph should start again against Lester on Monday, with Howard reclaiming first base for the final two games.

• Jason Heyward and Anthony Rizzo will both likely be back in the Cubs' lineup after getting days off on Sunday.

• In the first three innings, Morgan's ERA sits at 1.71, while in innings 3-6, his ERA is 15.80.

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ESPNChicago.com The Cubs' record pace and some surprising reasons for it By Jesse Rogers

We’re into Month 3 of what’s shaping up to be the best Chicago Cubs team in decades. But will the pace continue? And can the Cubs break the all-time record of 116 wins shared by the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners? It’s that question and a few others we examine as the Cubs embark on a nine-game road trip through the NL East.

They’re on pace but ...

At 39-16, the Cubs actually fell below the 116-win pace after Sunday’s loss to Arizona, but for all practical purposes their .709 winning percentage puts them in striking distance of the record. The problem is that if the recent history of great teams means anything, Chicago is more likely to slow down its winning pace rather than speed up.

On June 6, 2001, the Mariners had a .793 winning percentage but finished with a .716 mark. The 1998 New York Yankees won 114 games for a .704 percentage but were winning at a .768 clip at this point in the season. The 1986 New York Mets won 108 games but on June 6 were on a better pace, posting a .700 win percentage. The 1969 Baltimore Orioles won 109 games but slowed the pace in the later months as well. There are exceptions like the 1975 Reds, who got better as the season progressed, but the majority of big winning teams usually slow down rather than speed up the pace of victories as the season wears on.

The further back you go, the less the theory applies and in talking to baseball people they believe modern travel and different start times can be a contributing factor against keeping up a winning pace in today's game. In any case, Cubs manager Joe Maddon is apt to rest guys more and more in the hotter months, and might also when the Cubs' magic number to make the playoffs continues to dwindle. That’s what he did some late last season as the Cubs pulled away in the wild-card race.

FanGraphs also thinks the Cubs will slow the pace of winning, down to .590 the rest of the way, giving them about 103 wins for the season. The good news is they also give the Cubs a 99.7 percent chance of making the postseason, which is infinitely more important than breaking the wins record.

Talk about flying under the radar ...

Quick, any idea who is second in baseball in WHIP (hits plus walks divided by innings pitched) behind Clayton Kershaw of the ? It’s the same person who has a .201 batting average against – exactly the same as nine-game winner Chris Sale. It’s also the same guy who has given up one fewer than Kershaw this season, 4-3. OK, that last stat was achieved in two fewer starts but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks is quietly putting together some big numbers.

Hendricks is finally getting some recognition after he came within one inning of becoming the first Cubs pitcher to throw back-to-back, nine-inning complete games since Greg Maddux in 2004. Hendricks has been great so far in his second full big-league season. That's also about the time Maddux took off, posting an 18-8 record with a 3.18 ERA one year after compiling a 5.61 mark. Hendricks isn’t starting from that far off considering he had a 3.95 ERA in 2015 but this year he’s been even better.

The key for Hendricks has been first-pitch strikes. Over his first two years in the big leagues, he threw about 63 percent of them. This year he’s up to 70.3 percent, which leads the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. (Just behind him is teammate John Lackey at 69.9 percent.) And that translates to his 0-2 percentage rising as well, meaning hitters are in 0-2 counts against Hendricks now more than ever. It doesn’t take a sabermetric genius to understand how that’s helping him.

With all these things working for him, you might wonder why Hendricks ranks “only” 22nd in ERA (2.84). The answer is the hits he’s given up are very timely for the opposition. For example, he has the highest batting average against (.227) among the five Cubs starters when men are on-base. But that number plummets to .188 when the bases are empty, which is the best on the team. Maybe Hendricks simply needs to refine his stuff when he’s in the stretch but no matter how you break it down he’s having a very good season to date.

Ruling OBP ...

There is no team statistic that traditionally correlates to runs scored more than on-base percentage and the Cubs employ two of the best at getting on. Ben Zobrist is first in the league with a .438 mark, while teammate Dexter Fowler is fourth at .421. It wasn’t long ago they ranked 1-2.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the last pair of teammates to rank first and second in their respective league in on-base percentage was Joey Votto (.435) and Chin Soo-Choo (.423) of the Cincinnati Reds in 2013. Before that you have to go back to 2005 when Jason Giambi (.440) and Alex Rodriguez (.421) of the Yankees achieved it.

One thing Maddon toyed with at the end of the was making sure Fowler, Jason Heyward and Zobrist all got up in the first inning by hitting them 1-2-3. He’s big on “feeding” his sluggers and felt like there wouldn’t be many first innings where at least one of those three, if not more, would be on base for Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.

But Zobrist has batted third in the order only 12 times, while the former two players have been at the top all year. As anyone who’s followed the Cubs knows, Heyward has struggled to get on base as his percentage is only .316 for the season. So if nothing else there might be a mathematical reason to send Zobrist up to No.2 in the order. Feeding the sluggers might not be an issue with Fowler and Zobrist hitting first and second. In 1984, Bobby Dernier and Ryne Sandberg were known as the Daily Double. Perhaps Fowler and Zobrist can rekindle that magic batting next to each other. Of course, the Cubs are 39-16 so maybe things are just fine.

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ESPNChicago.com Jake Arrieta's winning streak ends as D-backs come to play By John Jackson

CHICAGO -- After facing just one batter, Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta could sense that Sunday would be a struggle -- even though he struck out Arizona Diamondbacks leadoff hitter Michael Bourn on the 10th pitch of the game.

“I made some good pitches to him. A good, long at-bat,” Arrieta said. “They had a pretty good approach. They made me show I had the ability to throw strikes or get in the strike zone early with the intent of getting in some hitter-friendly counts. The pitch count got up.”

And for the first time since July 25 of last season, a team was able to hang a regular-season loss on Arrieta, who allowed three runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts in the Cubs’ 3-2 loss.

The strikeouts were a season high, and just about everyone in the Cubs clubhouse was convinced Arrieta (9-1) was sharp.

“Bourn set the tone for them with that leadoff at-bat,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Jake had great stuff. Any time they put the ball in play, it found an opening. Give them credit. They worked really good at-bats.”

Arrieta had won his past 20 decisions. In his previous loss before Sunday, the Cubs were shut out 5-0 by the Philadelphia Phillies as Cole Hamels tossed a no-hitter.

Arizona didn’t throw a no-hitter or even a shutout, but it did produce one statistical oddity. The D-backs had 10 balls put in play against Arrieta and nine were hits. That’s an outrageous batting average of .900 on balls in play.

“It was just a strange day overall,” Arrieta said. “Everything they put in play seemed to be a base hit. Just a strange day all the way around.”

The big blow of the game was a two-run double by Arizona’s Yasmany Tomas in the second inning. Arrieta said the pitch to Tomas was a 96 mph sinker that moved inside off the plate against the right-handed batter -- just where he wanted it.

“He made a good pitch to Tomas, down and in,” Cubs catcher Miguel Montero said. “I thought it was a good pitch and he was able to put a barrel on it into the gap. I mean, it happens. It’s part of the game.”

It was a strange ending for a 10-game homestand in which the Cubs went 8-2. Oddly, both losses came on days Arrieta started. (The Dodgers won 5-0 on Tuesday, although Arrieta left after seven innings with the game scoreless and received a no-decision.)

“To lose a one-run game with a chance to sweep is tough,” Arrieta said, “but we’re playing really well right now.”

As for the winning streak ending, he was equally philosophical.

“Well, it was a good run, over the course of half a season or so last year and a pretty good stretch this year,” Arrieta said. “So, get something new started.”

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CSNChicago.com Jake Arrieta's Magical Run Comes To An End In Cubs Loss By Tony Andracki

All good things come to an end.

There's no way Jake Arrieta was going to go undefeated forever.

Arrieta picked up his first loss in more than 10 months Sunday as the Cubs fell 3-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of 41,596 fans at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs ace had previously won his last 20 decisions dating back to August of last year. Arrieta's last loss came when Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs July 25, 2015.

Arrieta had 12 strikeouts in five innings, but he wasn't as sharp as usual, needing 51 pitches to get through the first two frames.

Arrieta gave up nine hits and three runs, but managed to escape more damage when the Diamondbacks ran into two outs on the basepaths in the fifth inning. He had allowed just 42 hits in 75 innings this season prior to Sunday.

"They made me show that I have to be able to have the ability to throw strikes or get in the strike zone early with the intent to get into some hitter friendly counts," Arrieta said after the game. "Pitch count got up, it was just a strange day overall. Everything they put in play seemed to be a base hit. ... Just a strange day all the way around."

Joe Maddon agreed, tipping his cap to the Diamondbacks' patience at the plate.

"His stuff was electric today," Maddon said of Arrieta. "Every time they put a ball in play, it found a hole. ... Give them credit for working good at-bats today."

Arrieta moved to 9-1 on the season and saw his ERA rise to 1.80 and WHIP to 0.96.

The Cubs could only muster two runs of support for Arrieta, and he contributed the first, helping himself out with a two-out double in the second on a ball that popped in and out of Michael Bourn's glove in the center field vines.

Javy Baez provided the second run with a solo blast to right field, but that was it against Arizona starter Patrick Corbin.

Maddon was ejected in the seventh inning when he and the Cubs dugout exploded after they thought Trevor Cahill struck out Paul Goldschmidt on a check swing to end the frame. But first base umpire Tripp Gibson ruled Goldschmidt did not go around.

"I really thought he swung, I don't think there was any question about it, even from behind him," Maddon said. "My biggest concern was how to use the bullpen. I explained that to him. I said, 'Do you know what you just did? You really made it difficult to use the bullpen the rest of the game by not doing the right thing by calling him out.'

"All this stuff happened because that check swing was not called. And that's the part of the game that, it happens to everybody, but when it comes to strategy, that really messed up the bullpen. As it turned out, it didn't really matter in a sense, but I was really upset based on two things: I really thought he swung, absolutely, and on top of that I was thinking about the bullpen."

Even without Goldschmidt's check swing, Cubs pitchers still finished with 18 strikeouts in nine innings.

The Cubs now hit the road for a three-game series against the Phillies beginning Monday night on CSN, and they'll gladly take an 8-2 homestand into Philadelphia.

"I'm not upset, that's the thing," Maddon said. "I like the fact that we're upset that we lost, I love that. None of the guys accept that. But 8-2 homestand, I think we'll take that for the rest of the summer."

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CSNChicago.com Welington Castillo Believes Willson Contreras Can Handle The Pressure Of Being Everyday Catcher With Cubs By Tony Andracki

Welington Castillo knows what it takes to develop into a big-league catcher coming up through the Cubs system.

It wasn't that long ago that Castillo was seen as the catcher of the future for the Cubs, but now that title belongs to Willson Contreras in Triple-A Iowa.

Meanwhile, Castillo has found a new home with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he has flourished into one of the top offensive catchers in the league, hitting 24 homers with a .796 OPS in 122 games with the D-Backs.

Before the Cubs traded him away last May, Castillo got a chance to see what Contreras was all about and thinks the game's top catching prospect has what it takes to survive — and thrive — in Chicago.

"He was always good," Castillo said. "He's getting better as he matures and gets older and learns how to control the game a little bit more.

"He used to not call a good game when he wasn't feeling great, but now he's a little more mature. I think he's really close to being in Chicago. He can help them sometime soon."

Right now, Contreras is the top offensive performer in the Cubs system, regardless of position or level.

He entered play Sunday leading all Cubs minor-leaguers in average (.335), homers (9), OPS (1.013) and tied for the lead with 39 RBI.

This coming after Contreras won the Southern League (Double-A) batting title with a .333 average last season.

"Willson certainly is off to a wonderful start in his Triple-A career," said Jason McLeod, Cubs senior vice president of player development and scouting. "He's continued to mature over the last three years. Specifically, these last 12 months have been really stellar for him."

Despite his success offensively, the Cubs still feel Contreras needs more time to develop as a catcher.

"He's still in that finishing phase in the minor leagues," McLeod said. "It's a totally different ballgame when you get up here and now you're trying to game plan for an opposing team. You've got this pitching staff that's here, with very high expectations of the guys behind the plate.

"Willson's aware of that. We're doing everything we can to prepare him down there for that time. But right now, a lot depends on what the news would be up here. We couldn't be happier with him."

The big-league Cubs are currently carrying three catchers on their 25-man roster, including veterans Miguel Montero and David Ross, who are well-respected by the organization's pitchers and coaches for their defense behind home plate and the way they call games.

Third-string catcher Tim Federowicz also has drawn rave reviews for his work behind the dish, so the Cubs have the luxury of giving Contreras plenty of time to develop in the minors.

From what he's seen, Castillo believes Contreras will have no trouble handling a veteran pitching staff in Chicago that currently leads the league in ERA by a wide margin.

"He's been playing a little winter ball back in Venezuela, so that will help him a lot, just learning how to handle a pitching staff," Castillo said. "That pitching staff, they know what they're doing, so they're gonna help him a lot, too."

The Cubs are in a different spot with prospects now than they were just last spring when Kris Bryant and Addison Russell came up. Now, a guy making his big-league debut doesn't have to be the focal point on a team with the best record in baseball and so many big names/personalities to deflect attention.

Castillo admits it's "a little tough" to handle the expectations of a fanbase that hasn't seen a championship in more than a century, but still thinks Contreras will have success.

"He's mature enough to not even think about it and just go out there and compete and have fun," Castillo said. "...Joe Maddon and [bench coach] Davey Martinez do a really, really good job with the young guys.

"They're really open and give the confidence to the players to go and have fun."

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Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta's 20-game winning streak ends on strange Sunday at Wrigley By Chris Kuc

The blue flag with a white "L" to indicate a Cubs loss flew above Wrigley Field's center-field scoreboard Sunday, a rare sight around these parts.

It took an odd series of events to replace the white flag with a blue "W" that had been a staple with the Cubs in town, including the rarest of losses by Jake Arrieta on a day manager Joe Maddon described his ace's stuff as "electric."

The Diamondbacks handed Arrieta his first regular-season defeat in nearly 11 months when they overcame 12 strikeouts by the right-hander in the first five innings to post a 3-2 victory and end the Cubs' four-game winning streak.

"Just a strange day all the way around," Arrieta said after suffering his first defeat since July 25, 2015, which snapped his franchise-record 20-game winning streak.

Of the 10 balls the Diamondbacks put in play against Arrieta, nine went for hits. The big blow was a two-run double by Yasmany Tomas in the second inning on what appeared to be a nearly unhittable pitch.

"Everything they put in play seemed to be a base hit," Arrieta said. "The double to Tomas was 96 (mph) with some sink off the plate. He did a good job of keeping his hands in and putting a good swing on it. They strung three hits together … in the second and that's one of the things you deal with in this game sometimes. (Their) batting average with balls in play (Sunday) was high, extremely high. Just a weird day."

The Cubs cut the deficit to 2-1 in their half of the second on a double by Arrieta that popped out of Michael Bourn's glove while the center fielder leaped into the ivy, but the Diamondbacks got a run back when they scratched across a run on five hits in the fifth, with Paul Goldschmidt's single scoring Bourn.

Javier Baez found the seats in right with a solo home run in the sixth, but that was the extent of the damage allowed by Diamondbacks starter and winner Patrick Corbin.

The Cubs finished the homestand 8-2 with both losses coming in Arrieta starts. Sunday's defeat ended his remarkable run of consecutive winning decisions that was tied for third most in major-league history since 1913.

"It was a good run," Arrieta said. "To lose a one-run game with a chance to sweep is tough, but we're playing really well."

Catcher Miguel Montero agreed that "it was a heck of a run" by Arrieta and added: "Hopefully we start a new one coming up next start. He's been pitching great. Unfortunately, it didn't happen (Sunday), but Corbin did a great job to keep us off balance. Jake is human, he's going to give it up sometimes."

After the successful homestand, the Cubs (39-16) will embark on a nine-game road trip beginning Monday in Philadelphia.

"We won … every single series that we've been playing here in the homestand," Montero said. "That's the goal. We don't like to lose. Even if we're down, we believe we have a chance to come back and win the ballgame. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case (Sunday). We have to keep our head up. We're still playing pretty good baseball."

The trip will mark the start of a span that has Cubs with only 10 home games remaining until the All-Star break July 11-14.

"We had a really good homestand so we just have to keep pushing," shortstop Addison Russell said. "We love playing at home and we like playing on the road. If we can transfer the momentum from playing at home to on the road, I think we'll be in good shape."

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Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon's ejection triggers no terms of endearment By Paul Skrbina

An "I love you" to a man who had just become a reverend earned Joe Maddon an ejection nine years ago.

Umpire Ted Barrett, who was ordained as a minister in March 2007, had warned the then-Rays manager that one more word would mean bye-bye. Maddon chose those three. Barrett stuck by his.

The Cubs boss had no such terms of endearment for first-base umpire Tripp Gibson in the seventh inning of his team's 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday at Wrigley Field.

That's when Maddon earned his first heave-ho of the season almost before he could begin to argue.

"Tripp's a good dude, but I'm not there yet with him," Maddon said when asked whether he shared an "I love you" with Gibson, who threw Maddon out. "I haven't known him long enough."

The two became more acquainted with two outs in the top of the seventh. That's when most everyone, including Paul Goldschmidt, thought Goldschmidt had become Trevor Cahill's fifth strikeout victim.

Cubs catcher Miguel Montero tagged Goldschmidt, who nonchalantly made his way toward first on what looked to be a dropped-third strike. Little did Cahill or Maddon expect the Diamondbacks slugger to be standing there the beneficiary of ball four after Gibson ruled Goldschmidt had checked his swing.

Cahill stood stunned in front of the mound, both arms outstretched.

"I thought he called him (out)," Cahill said. "I was kind of confused."

Justin Grimm immediately relieved Cahill. The Diamondbacks didn't score and "as it turned out it didn't really matter," Maddon said.

But that didn't stop the Cubs' second-year manager from second-guessing.

"I really thought he swung," Maddon said. "I don't think there was any question about it. I said, 'You know what you just did?' He really made it difficult to use the bullpen the rest of the game by not doing the right thing and calling him out."

"It happens to everybody. That's the part of the game."

Suits, no ties: Jake "Snake" Arrieta peeled a cap off his head and turned his attention to John "Lack" Lackey.

Both men were wearing matching Cubs blue track suits as the team prepared to board a bus for the airport.

"We look like a Division III basketball team," Arrieta said.

"No scholarship players," Lackey cracked.

The team's zany suit trip but a memory, the Cubs left for Philadelphia on Sunday night out to make new ones while decked out in Jon Lester's idea of a theme trip.

Nicknames and numbers were sewn onto the back of each suit. Each player had a pair of gray tennis shoes.

"They're comfortable," Cahill said of the outfit. "I just tried them on. I'll wear 'em wherever."

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Chicago Tribune Latest Cubs theme suits don't come with ties By Paul Skrbina

Jake "Snake" Arrieta peeled a cap off his head and turned his attention to John "Lack" Lackey.

Both men were wearing matching Cubs blue track suits, complete with jackets and pants, as the team prepared to board a bus for the airport for what manager Joe "Joey" Maddon dubbed the "'Jon Lester Tribute to the NBA Finals Road Trip.'"

"We look like a Division III basketball team," Arrieta said.

"No scholarship players," Lackey cracked.

The team's zany suit trip but a memory, the Cubs left for Philadelphia on Sunday night out to make new ones while decked out in Jon "Left Hander" Lester's idea of a theme trip.

Nicknames and numbers were sewn onto the back of each suit. Each player had a pair of gray tennis shoes to go with the suits.

"They're comfortable," Trevor Cahill said of the outfit. "I just tried them on. I'll wear 'em wherever."

Cahill's jacket sported just his first name. Matt Szczur's (SZCZ-URRRRR, for the record) poked some fun at the backup's last name, which is pronounced like Caesar.

Catcher David "Rossy" Ross suggested the Cubs looked like "America's Team," if America's team is the Harlem Globetrotters.

Maddon said the fun of coming to the ballpark — and leaving it — shouldn't be overlooked.

"I want them to be 12 (years old)," Maddon said. "I want them to feel like they're on the best team in Little League, go out after the game and get some pizza and ice cream. That's great. That's part of what we're wearing today.

"I know it's a business; I know there's a lot of money. But it's a game. So play it like one."

Maddon said Lester came up with the idea and consulted with trainer Tim Buss, who, among other things, was responsible for bringing a mime in to lead stretches during spring training.

Maddon, known for his catchy "Try not to suck" and "Embrace the target" T-shirts, also created the "If you look hot, wear it" culture (and T-shirts).

"That's the 12-year-old in me too. I hope I never grow up," he said. "Too many times people consider this more of a life-and-death moment, and it's not. … I know I've pretty much done well when I've had a good time doing what I'm doing."

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Chicago Tribune Sunday's recap: Diamondbacks 3, Cubs 2 By Chris Kuc

The red-hot Chicago Cubs sent Jake Arrieta to the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in search of their fourth consecutive victory and a sweep of the three-game series at Wrigley Field.

They didn't get either as the Diamondbacks handed Arrieta his first loss of the season and first since July 25, 2015 as Arizona prevailed 3-2. Patrick Corbin out-dueled Arrieta to earn the victory for the Diamondbacks. The Cubs finished their 10-game homestand with an 8-2 record and stand at 39-16 on the season.

At the plate

The Cubs couldn't mount much offense against Corbin, but did get a solo home run from Javier Baez and an RBI double from Arrieta. Yasmany Tomas knocked in two runs for Arizona with a double in the second and Paul Goldschmidt had an RBI single in the fifth.

On the mound

Arrieta went five innings, yielding three runs on nine hits with one walk and a season-high 12 strikeouts. Corbin went seven innings for the Diamondbacks and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five.

Right thinking

Against the left-hander Corbin, Cubs manager Joe Maddon kept first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right fielder Jason Heyward out of the starting lineup.

Big number

30: Times the Cubs have won entering the sixth inning with a lead in 34 opportunities this season.

Up next

At Phillies, 6:05 p.m., Monday, CSN.

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