Arrieta strong again as Cubs beat Cards

Jake Arrieta worked 7 strong innings Wednesday night as the Cubs closed out their home season with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Arrieta also drove in 2 runs with a 2-run triple in the fourth inning.

On the mound, he worked 7 innings, giving up only 2 hits and 1 unearned run. He walked one and struck out 10. The first hit against Arrieta did not come until Yadier Molinia led off the fifth inning with a single up the middle. Molina later scored, as a throwing error by Cubs catcher Welington Castillo led to the unearned run.

The Cubs got on the board in the fourth wehn Luis Valbuena led off with a double off John Lackey. Two outs later, the Cardinals walked No. 8 hitter Logan Watkins to get to Arrieta. But Arrieta made them pay by driving a triple to the gap in right-center. He became the first Cubs pitcher to triple since Chris Rusin in 2012.

A crowd of 33,292 brought the season attendance total at Wrigley Field to 2,652,113, an increase of 9,431 fans over last year.