Martin's clutch 2B stuns Cubs, picks up Miley

Martin's clutch 2B stuns Cubs, picks up Miley

July 30th, 2016

CHICAGO -- apparently isn't invincible.
smacked a two-run double off a 100-mph fastball from Chapman in the eighth, then stole third and scored on a wild pitch by the lefty to lift the Mariners to a 4-1 victory over the Cubs on Saturday afternoon in front of 41,401 at Wrigley Field.
"We had the right guy up there," said Mariners manager Scott Servais. "We had the Cuban against the Cuban. Actually, Leonys has put good swings on velocity all year. He knows that's what he was going to get.
"I know it's left-on-left and Chapman is the guy, rightly so. He's been awesome. But it's Major League Baseball. We've got good hitters against good pitching, and we won that one today."
• Martin bests former Cuban teammate Chapman

Said Chapman: "Of course, every hitter comes and tries to do their job. It was my time to lose this time."
held Chicago hitless through six innings, but the Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the seventh thanks to an overturned call at home. was called out, but replay revealed that he avoided the tag at home. However, the Cubs lost a run that inning when tried to steal home. He was originally called safe, but after a review, that call was also overturned and Bryant was out.
"I knew he tagged me," Bryant said. "As I was sliding, I thought my leg was straight enough to touch home plate. It looked like I missed it and then got it after my foot passed by."
After holding Seattle scoreless through seven, Chicago starter walked two batters in the eighth and was pulled. Chapman, acquired Monday from the Yankees, was vying for his second four-out save in as many outings for the Cubs. This was his second blown save in 23 opportunities this season.
• Aroldis unable to record second four-out save
"That part of the batting order just yells his name," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "If he's available and we don't utilize him and lose the game, I'd be upset with myself."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Plays at the plate: Fowler walked to open the seventh inning and Bryant singled to center for the first hit off Miley. Both advanced on 's sacrifice bunt, and hit a chopper to shortstop , who threw home to apparently get Fowler. Home-plate umpire Lance Barrett originally called Fowler out, but the Cubs challenged the call, and after a review, the call was overturned and Fowler was safe. Bryant then tried to steal home on Miley's pickoff throw to first and was called safe, but the Mariners challenged that call, and it was also overturned.

"It's a good thing we've got replay for both sides," said Mariners catcher . "They're breaking down the smallest things, I guess. Bryant's foot came up right before the plate and with Fowler, just being able to reach his hand in is how close some of those plays are." More >
Miley throws a gem: The Mariners starter's only baserunner in the first six innings came on an error by third baseman with one out in the fourth on a hard grounder by Bryant. But Miley didn't let that slow him down, as he immediately picked up Seager by picking Bryant off first. He was the only Cubs player to reach base against the Seattle lefty until Fowler's walk and Bryant's single in the seventh, as Miley finished his seven innings with one hit and a season-high nine strikeouts in 92 pitches to snap a string of six straight losses.

"That's a good-hitting team over there," Miley said. "To think you're going to go and throw a no-hitter against a team like that is kind of crazy. That's why I never even let it get to me. I knew they'd put some at-bats together. I was lucky for the first six. That's how I look at it." More >
Start me up: Arrieta cruised through the first three innings, throwing 37 pitches (28 strikes). The only baserunner at that point was Martin, who struck out in the first, but he was safe at first on a wild pitch. Martin singled to lead off the Mariners' fourth for the first hit off Arrieta, but then hit into a double play. singled and Seager walked, but Arrieta got to ground out to at first and end the inning.

"I had a lot of ground balls and got outs early in counts," Arrieta said. "That's the game plan, to stay on that path and keep building off that. We'll be in a good spot if I do that."
The kid keeps cruising: While Chapman gave up the lead in the top of the eighth, the Mariners' own flamethrower -- rookie right-hander -- slammed the door on the Cubs in the bottom of that inning. The 22-year-old midseason callup has 100-mph heat of his own, and he used it to strike out pinch-hitter and Fowler to preserve the 3-1 lead after singled and worked a one-out walk. Diaz now has 46 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings.

"A nice growing moment for him is the way I'd put it," said Servais. "When you're a young pitcher, you need to go through this stuff on the road in these kind of environments against good teams. He got a little out of whack. He was a little pumped up, so we tried to slow him down and he got back in a groove. It was a huge pitch to Rizzo, and then the punchout to Fowler after that was big. I'm glad to see him get through it. He needs those. That's another stepping stone for him."
QUOTABLE
"When a fastball is up at 95, it's tough to hit. Imagine 105." -- Martin, on facing Chapman, with whom he played in Cuba before both came to the Majors
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: (5-4, 3.45 ERA) makes his third start since coming off the disabled list in the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game at 5:08 p.m. PT. The Mariners' ace has allowed 19 hits and nine runs in 12 2/3 innings against the White Sox and Pirates since his seven-week layoff with a strained calf. This will be his first appearance at Wrigley Field.
Cubs: was scheduled to start, but that will change because the Cubs are inserting lefty into the rotation for one day. Matusz signed as a free agent in mid-June, and he has been pitching in the Cubs' Minor League system. First pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. CT.
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