Arrieta's win streak ends at 20, Diamondbacks beat Cubs 3-2

Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta delivers a pitch
during the first inning of a baseball game against the
Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, June 5, 2016, in
Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Arrieta's winning streak ended at 20 games when Patrick Corbin and the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Sunday.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner had gone 24 regular-season starts without a loss since Cole Hamels pitched a no-hitter for Philadelphia at Wrigley Field on July 25. Arrieta did lose to the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series last season and was 2-1 in the playoffs.

Arrieta (9-1) lasted five innings this time, allowing three runs and nine hits. He threw 108 pitches and struck out a season-high 12 while walking one.

The Cubs lost for only the second time in 12 games and finished 8-2 on their homestand. Both losses came in starts by Arrieta after they won 23 in a row with him on the mound.

Corbin (3-5) went seven innings to lead Arizona to its second victory in seven games. The left-hander gave up two runs and five hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth and Brad Ziegler worked the ninth for his 39th consecutive save and 11th this season. He walked pinch-hitter Anthony Rizzo with two outs before retiring Miguel Montero on a groundout.

Chris Hermann had three hits and scored a run for Arizona. Yasmany Tomas hit a two-run double and Paul Goldschmidt added an RBI single as the Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep.

Javier Baez hit a solo homer for Chicago in the sixth. Cubs manager Joe Maddon was ejected for the first time this season in the seventh after Trevor Cahill walked Goldschmidt on a 3-2 pitch with two outs.

The Cubs thought Goldschmidt swung and appealed to first base umpire Tripp Gibson. When Goldschmidt was awarded first, Cahill threw his arms up in disgust and Maddon came out to argue.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Arizona hopes to activate OF David Peralta (right wrist inflammation) from the disabled list on Monday, though manager Chip Hale said the team would give Peralta an extra day or two if he needs it. Peralta was to play his final rehab game for Triple-A Reno on Sunday. ... Hale said he got a good report on Shelby Miller (sprained right index finger) after the right-hander threw five scoreless innings in an extended spring game Saturday.

Cubs: Chicago got a scare in the first inning when Jorge Soler crumpled to the ground after being hit in the right foot by a pitch. He stayed down for a few minutes while being tended to but remained in the game. ... Chicago held Rizzo and OF Jason Heyward out of the starting lineup, giving them some rest.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (2-4, 4.74 ERA) starts the opener of a nine-game homestand against Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (3-7, 4.75).

Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (6-3, 2.29) looks to remain unbeaten against Philadelphia when the Cubs start a nine-game trip against LHP Adam Morgan (1-4, 7.07) and the Phillies. Lester, coming off a complete-game win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, is 5-0 with a 1.71 ERA in seven starts against the Phillies.

Verlander's 7 innings lead Tigers to sweep of White Sox

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched seven strong innings and Justin Upton drove in a pair of runs as the Detroit Tigers swept the Chicago White Sox with a 5-2 victory Sunday.

Detroit came into the series having lost eight of its last 10 games against left-handed starters, but beat a trio of Chicago lefties: Carlos Rodon, Chris Sale and Carlos Quintana.

Verlander (5-5) allowed homers to Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier, but got himself out of two major jams in order to win for the third time in four starts. He gave up five hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Shane Greene and Francisco Rodriguez finished, with Rodriguez picking up his 15th save.

Quintana (5-6) took the loss, allowing a season-high five runs on nine hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. It was the first time he didn't finish five innings.

Abreu gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead with a long homer into the shrubbery atop the center field fence, but Verlander pitched out of a jam in the third.

Alex Avila, who has caught more of Verlander's starts than any other player, opened the inning with a walk and took third on Tyler Saladino's double. Verlander, though, got Adam Eaton to tap back to the mound before striking out Jason Coats and Abreu to end the inning.

The Tigers took advantage in the half, with Cameron Maybin drawing a two-out walk and scoring on Miguel Cabrera's double.

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias saved Verlander in the top of the fifth, making a diving stop of Saladino's one-out grounder to hold Jimmy Rollins at third. James McCann then grabbed Eaton's bunt and threw him out at first to end the inning.

Quintana walked J.D. Martinez with the bases loaded to make it 2-1 in the bottom half and Nick Castellanos followed with an RBI single. Upton drove a 3-0 fastball into the left field corner for a two-run double that ended Quintana's day.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: Coats, who needed five stitches in his mouth after an outfield collision ended his major league debut Saturday, was back in the lineup. Chicago was shorthanded in the outfield, with Austin Jackson battling turf toe and Melky Cabrera away from the team to deal with a family emergency.

Tigers: Cabrera, who has been having trouble with stiffness in his lower back, seemed to be struggling on a sixth-inning at-bat, but stayed in the game.

REUNION CONTINUES

With Avila back in the lineup for Chicago in his first series as a visitor in Detroit, his former teammates continued to have fun with him. After Verlander walked him in the third, he threw over to first, causing the slow-footed Avila to burst into laughter. Later in the game, after Miguel Cabrera struck out on a pitch in the dirt, he kept trying to embrace Avila as he was trying to gather up the ball.

UP NEXT

Chicago: Off on Monday before returning home for a three-game series against Washington.

Detroit: Open a three-game home series with Toronto on Monday. Michael Fulmer (5-1, 3.24) faces J.A. Happ (6-2, 3.06). Fulmer has won three straight starts, allowing one run in 22 1/3 innings.

Chicago Sports Weekly Report: White Sox struggle, Cubs still performing well

"UNB! Network" Chicago Sports Report

The last time we did our "Chicago Sports" Weekly Report" (which was eight days ago), the Chicago White Sox were leading the AL Central.

Now, after many issues, they are 27-25, third in the digusioj. They trail the Cleveland Indians (26-23) and the Kansas City Royals (28-22).

One of the main problems has been the White Sox's bullpen.

For example, the team was facing the Royals on Sunday with 7-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. After giving up several runs with two out already in the second half of the inning, the White Sox went from having a huge lead to losing a game they definitely had won.

That game showed the struggles and meltdowns of the White Sox bullpen.

There are many problems with the team that need to be found and fixed as soon as possible.

Cubs still lead NL Central: Unlike the White Sox, who are struggling completely, the Cubs are leading the NL Central with a record of 35-14.

Chicago Sports Weekly Report: Blackhawks players win medals at MWC, Cubs drops second straight series

"UNB! Network" Chicago Sports Report

Artemi Panarin celebrates with his linemates after netting a goal
against Team USA at Worlds. (Getty Images)

Blackhawks at the last day of the Worlds: Artemi Panarin (RUS): After being kept off the scoresheet through the first two medal rounds, Panarin ended the tournament with an outstanding performance, logging a goal and two assists in the bronze medal game. He finished with 15 points (6G, 9A) in 10 games, second overall only to linemate Vadim Shipachyov’s 18 points.

Tyler Motte (USA): Motte once again skated with University of Michigan teammates J.T. Compher and Dylan Larkin, and took one shot on goal in 15:36 of ice time. He finished the tournament with three points (1G, 2A) in 10 games.

Vincent Hinostroza (USA): Hinostroza was scratched for the bronze medal game; he finished with three points (1G, 2A) in nine outings.


Ville Pokka (FIN): Tasked with shutting down Canada’s top forwards, Pokka had a strong outing in the defensive end, logging 20:02 of ice time, second online to blue-line partner Esa Lindell. The 21-year-old, who was named Rockford’s Best Defenseman this past season, averaged 15:58 per game during the tournament and posted two helpers. (Chicago Blackhawks)

Cubs drop second straight series: Even though the Chicago Cubs are first in the NL Central at 29-13, they are struggling a bit.

With their 1-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, the Cubs have now dropped their second straight series.


“Throughout the season you’re going to see that time from time,” Cubs shortstop Addison Russell said after Sunday's game. “The best thing we can do is keep our confidence high and go get them next time.”

“We have to continue to try and play good baseball on a daily basis,” Cubs veteran David Ross said. “We don’t look at the big picture. We’re trying to win ballgames, trying to win series.”

The Cubs are 4-6 in their last ten games.

White Sox still lead AL Central: The Chicago White Sox are still leading the AL Central with a record of 26-18. However, they are only 3-7 in their last ten games.

White Sox acquire OF Bourgeois from Diamondbacks

"UNB! Network" Chicago Sports Report

CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox on Monday acquired OF Jason Bourgeois in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations.

The 34-year-old Bourgeois signed with the Diamondbacks in December. He recorded .356/.385/.442 in 33 games with Triple-A Reno this year.

Bourgeois made his MLB debut with the White Sox, playing six games for Chicago in 2008.

Bourgeois will report to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights on Tuesday.

Chicago Sports Weekly Report: Cubs, White Sox notes

"UNB! Network" Chicago Sports Report

CHICAGO WHITE SOX:
- The White Sox are leading the AL Central with a record of 24-14, which gives them a .631 win percentage. However, the White Sox are fresh off a series loss against the New York Yankees, who are last in the AL East. The final game of the series was on Sunday, where the White Sox lost by a final score of 2-1.

CHICAGO CUBS:
- The Cubs are leading the NL Central with a record of 27-9, which comes out to a .750 win percentage. The Cubs are fresh off a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, however.

Chicago Sports Weekly Report: Kane nominated for Hart Trophy; Cubs, White Sox still lead divisions

"UNB! Network" Chicago Sports Report

Patrick Kane is a finalist for the 2016 Hart Memorial
Trophy.

Kane named Hart Trophy finalist: The National Hockey League announced Saturday that Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane is one of three finalists for the 2016 Hart Memorial Trophy, given annually to the player who is most valuable to his team during the regular season. Forwards Jamie Benn (Dallas) and Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh) were also named finalists.

Kane won the 2016 Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, finishing the 2015-16 regular season with a career-high 106 points. It marked the first time in NHL history that a player born in the United States led the league in scoring.

The Buffalo native recorded career highs in goals (46) and assists (60) while skating in all 82 games of his ninth NHL season. His record-setting season included a franchise-best 26-game point streak (16G, 24A) from Oct. 17-Dec. 13. It was the longest streak by an American-born player, surpassing 18-game streaks by Eddie Olczyk (1989-90) and Phil Kessel (2008-09).

Kane, 27, also enjoyed a career-best seven-game goal streak from Nov. 2-15. The 2015-16 campaign saw Kane log 27 multi-point games and his first two regular-season hat tricks (Jan. 15 at TOR and April 3 vs. BOS). His 106 points are the most by a Blackhawks player since Jeremy Roenick scored 107 in 1993-94 and the 8th-most by a player in a season in franchise history.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Kane finished the 2015-16 regular season among Blackhawks franchise leaders in points (6th, 663), assists (6th, 412) and goals (T-10th, 251). The first-overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, he has played 658 career games, all with Chicago. In addition to being a five-time NHL All-Star, Kane won the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy, the 2008 Calder Memorial Trophy and a silver medal with Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Should Kane win the Hart Trophy, he would be the first Chicago Blackhawks player to win since forward Stan Mikita won his second of two straight such awards in 1968. Before Mikita’s two straight wins, forward Bobby Hull won the Hart Trophy two straight years in 1965 and 1966. Goalie Al Rollins was the first Blackhawks player to win the Hart Trophy, taking home the award in 1954.


The winner of the 2016 Hart Memorial Trophy will be announced during the NHL Awards on June 22 in Las Vegas. The award is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season. - via the Blackhawks website

Cubs, White Sox still lead respective divisions: Another week has passed in the 2016 MLB season, and the Chicago Cubs still lead the NL Central, and the White Sox still lead the AL Central.

The Cubs are 24-6 this season, and are 9-1 in their last ten games.

The White Sox are 22-10 this season, and are 6-4 in their last ten games.