Mariners beat Cubs as Chapman suffers blown save
CHICAGO -- Leonys Martin hit a go-ahead, two-run double against closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.
Martin finished 2-for-4 as the Mariners evened the series at one game apiece. Seattle (52-50) snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 11-5 in interleague play.
Kris Bryant, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist each singled for the Cubs' only hits. Chicago (62-41) lost for the second time in 58 games when leading after the seventh inning.
The Cubs led 1-0 in the eighth inning when Chapman entered the game with runners on second and third base and two outs. On a 1-1 count, Martin ripped the left-hander's third pitch to left-center field to score Shawn O'Malley and Nori Aoki. Martin later scored on a wild pitch by Chapman to make it 3-1.
The Mariners increased their lead to 4-1 in the ninth inning. Pinch runner Franklin Gutierrez scored on a throwing error by Cubs shortstop Addison Russell.
Chapman suffered his first blown save with the Cubs since coming over from the New York Yankees in a blockbuster trade Monday. It was his second blown save of the season.
Mariners left-hander Wade Miley (7-8) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and earned his first win since June 7. He allowed one run on one hit. He walked one and struck out nine for a season high.
Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta (12-5) drew the loss despite limiting the Mariners to two runs on two hits in seven innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Mariners right-hander Steve Cishek pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 25th save.
The Cubs snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh inning. Dexter Fowler led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second base on a single by Kris Bryant. A sacrifice bunt by Zobrist moved the runners to second and third base with one out for Javier Baez.
Seattle manager Scott Servais pulled the infield in and Baez hit a sharp ground ball to shortstop Shawn O'Malley, who fired a throw to home plate as Fowler tried to score. Home plate umpire Lance Barrett called Fowler out, but his call was overturned after a video review. Replays showed Fowler angled his body and brushed the plate with his left hand before catcher Mike Zunino made the tag.
Miley cruised through the first six innings without giving up a hit. Bryant was the only Cubs player to reach base before the seventh inning because of a fielding error by Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager.
Arrieta was nearly as dominant to start the game. He did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, when Martin singled up the middle. He threw 28 of his first 37 pitches for strikes.
NOTES: Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo was held out of the starting lineup Saturday after starting the previous 30 games in a row. He has played 99 games this season, which is second on the team to 3B Kris Bryant. "He has really been needing a day (off)," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We rely on him so heavily." ... Seattle RHP Nathan Karns was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a lower-back strain. Karns, 28, is 6-2 with a 5.15 ERA in 22 games (15 starts). ... Cubs rookie Willson Contreras made his second start at first base in place of Rizzo. Contreras also has started 13 games at catcher and 16 games in left field. ... Seattle recalled RHP Cody Martin from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Karns. ... Cubs 2B Javier Baez batted in the cleanup spot for only the second time this season.