Mariners’ Miley Matches Cubs Ace, M’s Rally Late For Win

A shutout by Chcicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta is nothing shocking, but a no-hit bid by Seattle's Wade Miley is. The two matched each other pitch for pitch through sixth with the veteran Miley taking a no-hit game into the bottom of the seventh at Wrigley Field. Despite a gutty effort from the veteran lefty facing the reigning Cy Young award-winning Cubbie, the M's needed late-inning offensive help off of the Cubs most recently hired gun Aroldis Chapman to win the second game of the three-game interleague series by a final tally of 4-1.

After six complete innings, Miley and Arrietta had thrown 80 and 82 pitches apiece, respectively, with Miley having not surrendered a base hit and facing the minimum amount of Cubs hitters (18). In the bottom of the seventh, the Cubs kicked up some dust, starting with a lead-off base on balls surrendered to Dexter Fowler. Kris Bryant followed with a single for the first base knock of the game for the North Siders. A ground ball to shortstop and Tri-Cities native Shawn O'Malley appeared to have Bryant out at second base but the decision was challenged and subsequently overturned becoming a fielder's choice and plating the first run of the afternoon for either club.

The Mariners responded immediately with Mike Zunino drawing a lead-off base on balls. Zunino was replace with pinch-runner and recent AAA call-up Guillermo Heredia. O'Malley followed and did the same. Manager Joe Maddon then lifted Arietta for Hector Rondon and M's skipper Scott Servais pinch-hit for Miley with Luis Sardinas. Sardinas laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out.

Nori Aoki hit a two-hopper to third baseman Kris Bryant whose throw barely beat Heredia for a tag play at the plate. Chicago then brought in newly acquired closer Aroldis Chaman to face centerfielder Leonys Martin. Martin, in the lefty versus lefty disadvantage and facing the hardest thrower in the bigs, drove a 1-1 pitch into left-center field to score both runner and give the Mariners their first lead. Martin then stole third and then came home on a wild pitch uncorked by Chapman before Robinson Cano struck out to end the inning.

The Mariners own flame-thrower, rookie Edwin Diaz, worked out of a two on, one out jam in the bottom of eight by fanning All-Star Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler.

Seattle played add-on in the ninth tacking on a run on a throwing error by the shortsop scoring pinch-runner Franklin Gutierrez.

Closer Steve Cishek worked the ninth for the save. The rubber match is set for 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.