ver Dan Otero and scored on Ibanezs two-out sharp liner that skipped off Freiman into right field line to make it 3-1. Young, batting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season while Coco Crisp reste

PITTSBURGH -- With the Chicago Cubs supposedly fine-tuning things for postseason form, ace Jake Arrieta was roughed up by the Pittsburgh Pirates in an 8-4 loss Wednesday night.Pirates first baseman John Jaso hit for the cycle and Arrieta (18-8) gave up seven runs and 10 hits -- both season-highs -- in five innings. But manager Joe Maddon said there isnt cause for concern that the Cubs starter wont be able to right the ship come October.That was probably the best strike-throwing I have seen out of him, Maddon said. He was throwing very well. Up until the home run by Jaso, theres just a couple singles to the opposite field. That was it. Then, the last inning kind of got away from us too. But he wasnt that bad today. None of it made sense to me.The Pirates hit three consecutive doubles to score three runs in the sixth inning and Jasos three-run home run in the fifth did the majority of the damage.It felt like a spring training game from the get-go, just wasnt crisp and didnt have much working, Arrieta (18-8) said. Thats about it.The Cubs havent made a plan yet for when Arrieta will pitch next. He is not scheduled to make another start this season. Arrieta said it doesnt matter to him when he pitches next, hes just focused on the postseason.Were moving on, he said. I dont like giving up seven runs. Im (mad) about that. but moving forward, everything is fine. . Ill throw sides up here, and whoever I face in the first round, theyre going to be in trouble.Jasos triple in the seventh inning gave him the first cycle in the 16-year history of PNC Park.The triple off reliever Pedro Strop clinched the Pirates first cycle since 2004. The last Pirate to hit for the cycle was Daryle Ward on May 26, 2004, in St. Louis. The last Pirates home cycle was by Jason Kendall on May 19, 2000, against the Cardinals at Three Rivers Stadium.Jaso isnt exactly a typical candidate for the cycle. He has neither prodigious power nor speed, as he hit just his seventh home run and third triple of the season. Jaso didnt even realize what had happened until he had already performed the feat.It didnt really dawn on me until I was standing on the base, he said. I was looking at (third base coach Rick) Sofield and it finally just hit me.Against Arrieta, Jaso singled in the second inning, hit a three-run home run in the fourth and doubled in the fifth.Its just a great memory to have, Jaso said. You dont really want to take this blessing for granted being here.Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out four in six innings.Chicagos Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer, his 32nd of the season.OH, CANADAThe Pirates announced that they will play a two-game preseason series in Montreal against the Toronto Blue Jays March 31 and April 1, 2017. The Pirates havent played in Montreal since 2013.TRAINING ROOMCubs: OF Chris Coghlan left the game with a mild left ankle sprain. He ran into the wall in left field attempting to catch a fly ball in the fifth inning. . Maddon expects OF Jorge Soler (right side) to be able to play this weekend.Pirates: After being officially eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday, the Pirates will shut injured reliever Neftali Feliz down for the season, and will be backing away from C Francisco Cervelli, according to manager Clint Hurdle. Cervelli had hamate surgery in July and has dealt with several minor injuries all year. . OF Gregory Polanco did not play with a stiff neck. He had previously missed three games with a facial contusion following a collision with the wall in left field.UP NEXTCubs: Rob Zastryzny (1-0, 0.79 ERA) will make his first career start. In seven career appearances, his longest outing is 3 2/3 innings. Zastryzny started 14 games for Triple-A Iowa this season with a 7-3 record and a 4.22 ERA.Pirates: Ivan Nova (12-8, 4.37 ERA) has lost two straight starts after winning his first five decisions with the Pirates since coming over from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. He has given up 11 runs (nine earned) and 18 hits over seven innings in his last two starts.Swell Drinkfles . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Swell Waterfles Nederland . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. http://www.swellnederlandkopen.com/ . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Swell Water Nederland . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Swell Waterfles Kopen . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Mike Zunino hit his first career home run on a tiebreaking solo shot in the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners held on for a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Two days after making his big league debut, Zunino connected on a 1-1 pitch from Oakland starter Tommy Milone (6-6) and hit a towering shot to centre field to help snap Oaklands 11-game home winning streak. Raul Ibanez added two hits and an RBI for the Mariners, while Joe Saunders (5-6) allowed five hits over seven innings for his first road victory of the season. Chris Young homered and had three hits but the As, coming off an 18-inning win against the New York Yankees, couldnt get much else going. The Mariners had lost five of eight before beating the division-leading As to begin a seven-game road trip. They did it behind a steady offence -- every starter but Kendrys Morales had at least one hit -- and a stellar effort from Saunders. The Seattle left-hander struck out four and walked two, pitching out of jams in the second, third and seventh. Saunders had been winless in his six previous starts away from Safeco Field and had a 9.00 ERA on the road before handcuffing the As. Danny Farquhar pitched the eighth and allowed Youngs homer, and Oliver Perez worked the ninth for his first career save. Perez was in the closers role after Seattle manager Eric Wedge decided to go with a by-committee approach following Tom Wilhelmsens recent struggles. Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the second when Mike Morse doubled and scored on Zuninos double-play grounder. Morse had been in a 2-for-18 slump. The Mariners defence gave Saunders a lift when Oaklands Nate Freiman was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a single by Derek Norris in the bottom of the second before the As tied it in the fifth.dddddddddddd. Adam Rosales reached on a fielders choice grounder and scored when Seattle second baseman Nick Franklin and right fielder Jason Bay bumped into each other chasing Eric Sogards fly ball. Franklin appeared to make the catch but Bays glove hit Franklins and the ball popped out and rolled away as Rosales circled the bases. Sogard was credited with an RBI double. Milone pitched into the seventh but left following Zuninos homer and a two-out throwing error by shortstop Jed Lowrie. He struck out four and walked three. Franklin singled leading off the eighth against As reliever Dan Otero and scored on Ibanezs two-out sharp liner that skipped off Freiman into right field line to make it 3-1. Young, batting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season while Coco Crisp rested his bruised right heel, homered off Farquhar to make it 3-2. Notes: Wilhemsen has a team-leading 16 saves but allowed five earned runs in his last outing on Wednesday. ... Oakland 3B Josh Donaldson was also rested a day after suffering a leg strain. ... The As signed first-round draft pick Billy McKinney. McKinney had committed to TCU before getting selected 24th overall in the draft. ... Otero was called up from Triple-A Sacramento before the game. Oakland optioned LHP Hideki Okajima to the minors to make room. ... The Mariners signed veteran Henry Blanco and designated fellow catcher Kelly Shoppach for assignment. The 41-year-old Blanco, released by the Toronto Blue Jays on June 10, is with his 11th major league team. ... Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez (7-4) takes a 2.49 ERA into Saturdays game. ... RHP A.J. Griffin (5-5), who is winless over his last three starts, goes for the As. ' ' '