Cubs defeat Giants, 8-5

Arrieta would end his night after allowing a runner on in the seventh inning, allowing just the one run on four hits and one walk, while striking out eight through six frames.

Schwarber launched a three-run homer in the third off Matt Cain to snap a 1-for-20 slump.

That surely wasn’t the case two innings earlier, when Castro crushed a Yusmeiro Petit pitch halfway up the bleachers in left field for a solo homer, his sixth of the season. A passed ball and a wild pitch moved Castro to third, and after a one-out walk to No. 9 hitter Tommy La Stella, Cain received a reprieve from his defense.

Center fielder Dexter Fowler sprinted in to catch a line drive by Cain for the final out of the third.

“55 “” Cubs home runs since the All-Star break.

After all, for about five seconds Tuesday night, he thought he had one. Not only is he the most consistent starter on the team, he’s also one of the best pitchers in all of baseball this year.

Schwarber’s towering, three-run homer in the third set the tone for the Cubs, who have won 21 of 25 games to pull 7 1/2 games ahead of the Giants for the second wild-card spot. They now own a 6 1/2-game advantage over San Francisco but won’t have two contributors to their playoff push for the near future. “The other teams (in the wild-card race) might stumble, but our focus needs to be on the division”.

“When your facing the defending the champs, there’s certain times where it’s not a bad idea to grind out at-bat’s with those guys, not give in, or throw something down the heart of the plate” Arrieta said about Tuesday’s start.

Arrieta also had a 2-0 win over the Giants earlier this month when the Cubs swept a four-game series.

“I think it’s fair to say he’s not quite where I think he’s going to be”, Bochy said after Tuesday’s game.

But it’s obvious to everyone with a ticket, television, smartphone, or radio that Cain isn’t getting it done for the 2015 Giants, and with minimal margin for error, Bochy can’t jeopardize his team’s playoff chances by betting on No. 18 finding his best stuff again.

“You look at the year he’s having, he’s throwing the ball as well as anyone”, Bochy said. Wacky. Flagging rookie Chris Heston, who was optioned to Triple-A on Friday in an effort to lighten his innings load, must spend 10 days in the minors and couldn’t return on Sunday unless the Giants bring him up to replace a player who is being placed on the disabled list. Pagan’s scheduled to play nine innings Wednesday and then rejoin the Giants to be evaluated.

Joe Panik’s progress from back inflammation has been slower.

“If all goes well and we can bump it up a couple days, we’ll do it”, Bochy said.

The San Francisco Giants mounted a late rally on Tuesday but they came up short and lost to the Cubs. “But we gotta do what’s right”. Peavy took the loss in his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while the Giants offense was shut out. The Cubs will start right-hander Kyle Kendricks (6-5, 4.03).