May 08--ST. LOUIS -- After two nondescript starts following an impressive April, Jake Arrieta recognizes it's back to basics.
Although Arrieta wasn't hit hard Thursday, he acknowledges the results weren't acceptable after being charged with four earned runs for the second consecutive start.
"It's just frustrating," Arrieta said after failing to force early contact and allowing the Cardinals to gradually pull away to a 5-1 win over the Cubs. "We could have gave a better effort. Now it's back-to-back starts where I haven't been very good.
"I've got some work to do. I need to clean some things up. We'll just come up next time with a little better start and set the tone better."
Arrieta entered Thursday's game with a lifetime 3-0 record and 0.74 ERA in six starts against the Cardinals -- the lowest ERA in history by a pitcher with at least six starts against the Cardinals. After Jon Lester snapped the Cubs' four-game losing streak Wednesday night, the Cubs were feeling optimistic about splitting their four-game series against their National League Central rivals.
The Cardinals, however, continued their knack for clutch hits as Peter Bourjos ripped a triple down past third baseman Kris Bryant to cap a two-run second-inning rally, and opposing pitcher John Lackey foiled the Cubs' strategy by hitting an opposite-field double after Bourjos was intentionally walked to cap a two-run rally in the fourth.
"(Arrieta) wasn't absolutely scalded," manager Joe Maddon said. "They've been very good at moving the baseball in counts. They are grinding their at-bats as we are. They're getting better results overall."
Aside from Lester, the Cubs' starting pitchers failed to pitch more than 5 1/3 innings in three starts, and the rotation's ERA swelled to 4.15.
The rotation will have to improve from within unless they look to Triple-A Iowa, where Donn Roach has a 3-0 record and 2.59 ERA in five starts and left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada has allowed a total of three earned runs in three of his four starts entering Thursday night's start at Nashville.
Maddon remains unconcerned about his rotation, although key tests could occur Saturday night and Sunday at Milwaukee. Kyle Hendricks has struggled to find his sinker and hasn't pitched more than six innings in any of his five starts this season. Left-hander Travis Wood had an 8.22 ERA in three starts against the Brewers in 2014.
"I think our guys will continue to get better," Maddon said. "They're healthy. They'll continue to hit their stride. I think Jason (Hammel) has been as consistent as anybody, and he's pitching (Friday at Milwaukee). It's almost like you're in this position, which is a pretty good position. And all our guys haven't pitched to their capabilities.
"And they will."
