SAN FRANCISCO -- Friday night's matchup of National League heavyweights became a tag-team affair dominated by the Chicago Cubs, as Jake Arrieta overpowered the San Francisco Giants and Kris Bryant delivered a telling uppercut.
The result was an 8-1 triumph for the Cubs, who halted the Giants' eight-game winning streak while improving their Major League-best record to 29-11. Chicago received a typical effort from Arrieta (8-0), who limited the Giants to one run and four hits in seven innings. A five-run, second-inning outburst, capped by Bryant's three-run homer, gave the right-hander ample support.
Giants starter Jake Peavy (1-5) lasted 1 2/3 innings, matching the second-shortest start of his career. He appeared to have received a break of sorts in the second inning, after Tommy La Stella hit a drive off the right-field wall with the bases loaded and one out. Miguel Montero scored easily from third base, but second baseman Joe Panik's relay beat Arrieta home. He retreated toward third, which was occupied by Dexter Fowler, and became the inning's second out. Then Bryant's homer virtually sealed the outcome -- given Arrieta's presence. The Cubs have won his last 22 starts dating back to last year.
Chicago's night was dampened by an injury to Jason Heyward, who left the game in the bottom of the first inning after making a diving catch on Denard Span's deep fly to center and slamming into the outfield wall. Heyward was undergoing evaluation for an injured right torso/abdominal region.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Helping his own cause: Arrieta punched a single into center field against a drawn-in infield moments after Javier Baez was ruled out at first, a call that would stand upon review after the Cubs challenged. He not only drove in the first run of the game but extended the inning to help set up the rally.
Bright spot from bullpen: After Peavy departed, Giants relievers Derek Law, Albert Suarez and George Kontos no-hit the Cubs for the next five innings. The magic ended in the eighth inning, as Kontos, making his first appearance since being activated from the disabled list on Tuesday, surrendered back-to-back home runs to Ben Zobrist and Jorge Soler.
WHAT'S NEXT
Cubs: Jon Lester takes the mound for Saturday's 6:15 p.m. CT game against the Giants. Lester has allowed one or fewer runs in six of his eight starts. Infielder Addison Russell is expected back in the starting lineup.
Giants: Right-hander Matt Cain will seek his third quality start in a row when he faces Chicago in Saturday's 4:15 p.m. PT rematch at AT&T Park. Cain yielded one run and seven hits in seven innings last Sunday at Arizona.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Rick Eymer is a contributor to MLB.com and covered the Cubs on Friday.
Chris Haft has covered the Giants since 2005, and for MLB.com since 2007. Follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat and listen to his podcast.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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