CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader. Here's a quick look at the game.
How it happened: The Cubs got on the board first scoring twice in the third inning as Chris Denorfia singled home both runs with two outs. They added one in the sixth when Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler all walked after pitcher Jake Arrieta opened the inning with a single. Arrieta was his usual dominant self but slowed down in the later innings giving up seven hits and two walks while leaving in the seventh as the Cardinals finally got to him. Peter Bourjos and Xavier Scruggs had RBI hits in that inning but James Russell got pinch hitter Matt Carpenter looking to end the rally. The Cubs extended the lead in the eighth when Dexter Fowler doubled home Jonathan Herrera and then Rizzo brought him in with his 16th home run of the season. Denorfia added another RBI single to close out the 4-run inning.
What it means: The Cubs improved to 3-8 against the Cardinals this season and finally got a big pitch when they needed it as Russell froze Carpenter with a 92 mph fastball. Then they got a few big hits after starting the game 1-for-10 with men in scoring position. Fowler and Rizzo were the catalysts all day as Fowler is coming out of an extended slump. He was on base three times while Rizzo made it there four times -- all against left-handed pitching.
Though Arrieta tired in the seventh he flew through the early and middle innings making it a shorter day for the bullpen. He had a strong case for the All-Star team before Monday's snub and his start on Tuesday continued a trend of quality to dominant performances this season for the Cubs righty.
Rizzo: He raised his on-base percentage off left-handed pitching this year to .481. According to ESPN Stats and Information, that's second in all of baseball (Miguel Cabrera) among qualified hitters -- including righties. His opposite field home run came into the teeth of a 24 mph wind.
Coghlan's streak: Chris Coghlan played in his league leading 146th straight game when he pinch-hit in the seventh inning. He struck out.
What's next: Game 2 of the doubleheader takes place at 8 p.m. ET when Dallas Beeler makes his season debut for the Cubs facing lefty Tim Cooney (0-0, 5.40).