Cardinals 0 - 2 Cubs
Final
  for this game

Arrieta tries to give Maddon first win with Cubs

Apr 8, 2015 - 11:41 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Jake Arrieta tries to build upon a successful 2014 season on Wednesday when he kicks off his 2015 campaign in what is now a two- game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

He was slated to go on Tuesday, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. No makeuyp date has been announced.

Arrieta ranked third in the National League last season with a 0.989 WHIP and only allowed 114 hits in a career-best 156 2/3 innings. He also won 10 games and pitched to a 2.53 ERA.

"I feel I can pick up where I left off," Arrieta told the team's website.

He had come into last season with a career ERA of 5.23.

The right-hander was 1-0 with a 1.21 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals, while holding them to three earned runs over 22 1/3 innings and striking out 28. For his career, Arrieta is 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA in five starts against St. Louis.

Arrieta has been particularly stingy against Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter and outfielder Matt Holliday, who are a combined 0-for-23 against him.

Getting the call for St. Louis will be righty Lance Lynn, who signed a 3-year extension with the Cardinals this offseason. He has won 15 games in each of the last two seasons and was 15-10 a year ago with a career-best 2.74 ERA in 33 starts.

His 48 wins since 2012 ranks third-most among NL pitchers.

Lynn has faced the Cubs 11 times (10 starts) and is 6-3 against them with a 3.18 ERA.

St. Louis started its season on a winning note Sunday, as Adam Wainwright tossed six shutout innings to help the Cards blank the Cubs, 3-0.

The 33-year-old Wainwright (1-0) struck out six and scattered five hits in the win.

"He's a bully out there. He wants to come at you," Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward said. "He won't give in when the batter thinks they're going to get a good pitch to hit."

Heyward, acquired from the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Shelby Miller to fill in for the late Oscar Taveras in right field, smacked two doubles among his three hits and scored a run.

Holliday posted a pair of RBI singles, while Trevor Rosenthal picked up the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Chicago's biggest offseason acquisition, left-hander Jon Lester, lasted just 4 1/3 frames and allowed all three runs on eight hits. He also struck out six and walked a pair in defeat.

"Not much working tonight," Lester said.






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