CHICAGO (AP) - Jake Arrieta pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Sunday for a four-game sweep of the defending world champions.
Arrieta also tripled and scored in the second as the Cubs won for the 10th time in 11 games. Chicago's first four-game sweep of San Francisco since June 1977 increased its lead for the second NL wild card to 3 1/2 games over the reeling Giants.
Arrieta (13-6) struck out six and walked two in 7 2-3 innings. The right-hander is 7-1 with a 1.23 ERA in his last 10 starts dating to a four-hit shutout at Minnesota on June 21.
Justin Grimm got the final out of the eighth, and Hector Rondon worked out of a jam in the ninth while recording his 19th save in 22 chances.
San Francisco loaded the bases with no outs on two hits and a hit batter. But Rondon responded with three straight strikeouts, including Gregor Blanco on a called third strike to end the game.
While the crowd of 39,939 cheered wildly, Blanco had a few words with home plate umpire Jim Reynolds about the final pitch.
Kris Bryant singled in a run in the first for the Cubs (62-48), who moved a season-high 14 games over .500.
Giants right-hander Jake Peavy (2-5) allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two in five innings. He was the only San Francisco starter to record an out in the fifth in the series.
The Giants concluded a 10-game road trip with a 3-7 record.
Peavy needed 12 pitches to strike out leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler in the first, and it was a sign of things to come. He finished with 101 pitches, compared to 117 for Arrieta.
Kyle Schwarber walked and scored on Bryant's two-out single to right. Arrieta's second career triple set up Addison Russell's sacrifice fly.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: LF Nori Aoki left in the third inning after getting drilled in the helmet by a 92 mph fastball from Arrieta. Aoki was tended to by a Giants trainer and walked off the field under his own power. ... RHP Tim Hudson is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday. The veteran has been out with a right shoulder strain. It's uncertain if he will be joining the rotation or pitching out of the bullpen. "He threw a pen yesterday. He feels good," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Tuesday we'll decide what we're going to do."
UP NEXT
Giants: After an off day on Monday, Madison Bumgarner (12-6) is scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Astros. Bumgarner is 3-1 in his career against the Astros with a 2.93 ERA.
Cubs: Dan Haren is scheduled to make his second start for the Cubs against the Brewers on Tuesday. He allowed four runs in five innings in his Cubs debut against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
LOOKING OUT FOR CASTRO
Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo expressed his support for SS Starlin Castro, who was benched on Friday. Castro is hitting .236 and has 18 errors.
"Starlin will be fine," Rizzo said. "I know obviously this is a low point for him. He's a great teammate. He's a great person. He's a good leader, too. He doesn't get down. He doesn't get too high during the highs or too low during the lows."