Cubs 6, Brewers 1
MILWAUKEE -- Jake Arrieta threw six shutout innings in his final start of the regular season and first baseman Anthony Rizzo drove in three runs as the Cubs cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night at Miller Park.
Just as he has been since the All-Star break, Arrieta (22-6) was dominant against the Brewers, holding them to just two hits while striking out seven in a final tuneup before he takes the mound against Pittsburgh next Wednesday in the NL Wild Card Game.
Rizzo hit his 31st home run of the season and added a two-run single in the fifth to pace the Chicago offense, which also got two hits apiece from second baseman Starlin Castro and shortstop Addison Russell.
Brewers left fielder Khris Davis had two of Milwaukee’s three hits, including a solo home run in the seventh off right-hander Trevor Cahill.
The victory left Chicago 1 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh in the wild-card race. The Pirates were tied with Cincinnati in extra innings.
Rookie right-hander Ariel Pena (2-1) couldn't get out of the fifth for Milwaukee, and he was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and two walks.
Pena did his best Arrieta impression, striking out five in his first two innings but ran into trouble in the third, allowing doubles to Russell and third baseman Tommy La Stella to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Pena followed that with a one-out walk to center fielder Dexter Fowler before escaping further damage when right fielder Kyle Schwarber grounded into a double play.
Rizzo made it a 2-0 game with a one-out homer in the fifth, and he doubled the lead with a bases-loaded single in the fifth off right-hander David Goforth.
NOTES: The Cubs brought a five-game winning streak into the game, the longest active streak in the majors. They began the day 29 games above .500 for the first time since 2008, when they finished the regular season 97-64. ... The Brewers' bullpen has thrown 11 consecutive scoreless innings, entering play Friday. ... Milwaukee LF Khris Davis has hit 20 home runs since the All-Star break, second-most among National League players. ... Chicago has won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams but a Milwaukee victory Friday would even the all-time series, which began in 1997 when the Brewers were in the AL Central, at 145-145. ... The Cubs began the day two games behind the Pirates in the NL wild-card standings. A Pittsburgh victory or Chicago loss would give the Pirates home-field advantage for the wild-card game, scheduled for Wednesday.