Dodgers deny Jake Arrieta 21st consecutive victory, end Cubs' win streak
CHICAGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers found a way to win when facing Jake Arrieta: throw a one-hitter.
Scott Kazmir and two relievers combined to allow only a third-inning single, matching zeros with the Cubs ace before the Dodgers got to Chicago's bullpen for a 5-0 victory Tuesday night.
"Jake is obviously one of the best pitchers in baseball and for Kaz to rise to the occasion and be the veteran that he is and top-of-the-rotation guy and he gave us a huge outing," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "He matched Jake pitch for pitch and we just followed his lead."
Kazmir allowed the lone hit and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings. Joe Blanton (3-2) struck out three in two perfect innings before Adam Liberatore struck out one in a perfect ninth as the Dodgers snapped the Cubs' six-game winning streak.
"It's really just a big win for us," Kazmir said.
2-0 #Dodgers lead in the ninth?
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 1, 2016
NOT. ENOUGH.
-@coreyseager_5 probably.https://t.co/F607z57H0i
Arrieta went seven scoreless innings, but was denied his 21st consecutive victory. The Cubs had won in Arrieta's last 23 starts.
"You play this game long enough and you're going to lose a game here and there," Arrieta said. "It was a good streak and we'll get started on something else."
Cubs left-hander Clayton Richard (0-1) gave up three straight singles to lefties in the eighth, the last Adrian Gonzalez's liner to left that scored Chase Utley and ended the Dodgers' 16-inning scoreless streak.
"I was just looking for a ball up that I could get into the air and it just happened to be the first pitch," Gonzalez said.
Corey Seager hit a three-run homer off Trevor Cahill in the ninth in the Dodgers' seventh win in nine games.
#Filthy https://t.co/KMVS7p3jFG
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2016
Arrieta walked the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh before striking out Justin Turner looking on his 107th pitch.
Arrieta allowed two hits and four walks and struck out eight while lowering his ERA to 1.56, but couldn't become the majors' first 10-game winner.
"We've gotten used to winning when he pitches," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
The start of the game was delayed 27 minutes by rain amid a whirlwind day for the Dodgers on their manager's 44th birthday.
Outfielder Yasiel Puig (sore left hamstring) was a late scratch. They recalled 19-year-old left-hander Julio Urias from the minors and placed lefty Alex Wood on the disabled list with elbow soreness a day after he took the loss against the Cubs.
.@JArrieta34 throws seven shutout innings, #Cubs win streak snapped at six. Recap: https://t.co/8oukcAf8wk pic.twitter.com/3Tzbpr4oID
— #VoteCubs (@Cubs) June 1, 2016
That came as the Dodgers designated struggling Alex Guerrero for assignment and announced right-hander Kenta Maeda (hand) is uncertain for his Thursday start.
And they were facing Arrieta for the first time since his no-hitter at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 30.
But Kazmir was up to the task in his first outing since striking out 12 in six innings against Cincinnati. He didn't allow a baserunner after Dexter Fowler's two-out single in the third. Fowler's fly ball to the warning track in left center in the sixth was the closest the Cubs came to scoring.
The Dodgers retired the final 19 Cubs in order.
"Scott pitched just as good as Arrieta," Gonzalez said, "and then our bullpen did an incredible job."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Wood is returning to LA to have an MRI. . Roberts said he held out Puig as a precaution because of the wet grass and expects him to play Wednesday. . OF Andrew Ethier has still not resumed baseball activities since fracturing his right tibia in late March. . LF Trayce Thompson (back spasms) returned after a two-game absence.
Cubs: Maddon had heard of no issues with RHP Jason Hammel after he left Monday's game with right hamstring cramping. . Fowler (right heel) started after sitting out Monday.
TWO ERRORS
Cubs C Miguel Montero made two errors in a span of five pitches in the second inning when he bobbled a tapper in front of the mound, then threw wild to second when he thought Yasmani Grandal was stealing.
RAMIREZ TO BREWERS
Reliever Neil Ramirez, designated for assignment by the Cubs on May 21, was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee. "He's got a wipeout slider," Maddon said. "With good health, this guy can be really good."
UP NEXT
Cubs LHP Jon Lester (5-3, 2.48 ERA) starts Wednesday night against Dodgers RHP Mike Bolsinger (1-1, 4.50).
