Jake Arrieta’s struggles continue in Cubs’ 8-5 loss to the GiantsRussell Dorseyon June 5, 2021 at 5:01 am

Arrieta allowed six runs in two innings in Friday’s 8-5 loss. The Cubs’ right-hander has an 8.28 ERA in his last six starts.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Cubs would have been in bad shape if it wasn’t for the job Jake Arrieta did in April. But since the first month of the season, things have not gone well for the veteran right-hander.

Coming off his last start where he didn’t make it through four innings, the Giants didn’t make it any easier on Arrieta in Friday’s 8-5 loss.

“I haven’t been great the last couple times out,” Arrieta said. We’ll get past that. Totally expect to to be a lot better and get back on track.”

Things came apart for Arrieta quickly with the Giants jumping all over him in the second with four consecutive base hits to start the inning, including a double and a three-run homer off the bat of Steven Duggar to give San Francisco a 3-2 lead.

The problems continued for Arrieta as the inning continued and after a single and a walk, he surrendered his second three-run homer of the inning to Alex Dickerson to make it a 6-2 game.

“I think he’s just fighting himself a little bit mechanically,” manager David Ross said. “From the side view, just flat. Two-seamers in [with] a lot of run middle of the plate. The cutter looked like it was backing up on him today. Couldn’t quite get it in there against lefties. They did some real damage on that pitch.”

There was plenty of loud contact against Arrieta with six hits in the inning over 100 mph and after closing the inning with the Giants sending 10 batters to the plate, he didn’t return in the third.

After the game, Arrieta said part of the reason for his performance was that he got sick before Friday’s game and dealt with the effects of that throughout the game.

“Before the game, I was pretty sick and apparently what I had for lunch today made me pretty sick,” Arrieta said. “Threw up before the game and then a few times after I came out of the game. I was really weak. Tried to try to go out there and do what I could, wasn’t able to, unfortunately. Put us in a big hole.

“I thought I was capable of going out there and doing a little bit more. I didn’t really have my legs underneath me. Just not a great day.”

The Cubs are going to have to figure out what to do with their veteran right-hander. Arrieta has an 8.28 ERA over his last six starts.

The Cubs’ offense did do some damage with both Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson hitting a pair of two-run shots in the first and fourth inning. It was Pederson’s second homer of the series.

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