CHICAGO (AP) – Michael Wacha pitched into the seventh inning for his first win in nearly two months and the St. Louis Cardinals waited out Jake Arrieta before roughing up Chicago’s bullpen in a 7-2 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday.
Aledmys Diaz hit a two-run home run, and Matt Carpenter had a two-run double in a five-run sixth after Arrieta (11-2) departed. The Cardinals won their eighth straight road game – their longest streak since 1982 – and completed their first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field since 1988.
Arrieta was charged with two runs – one earned – and four hits in five innings as he struggled with control (four walks) and pitch count (106).
Wacha (3-7) allowed two hits until rookie Willson Contreras’ one-out, two-run homer in the seventh ended his day as he snapped a seven-game skid.
Contreras replaced Miguel Montero an inning earlier after the catcher twisted his right knee.