CHICAGO — Jake Arrieta continued his dominant second half with six innings of two-hit ball, Ben Zobrist homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with an RBI, Alex Avila had an RBI single and Jason Heyward added a sacrifice fly for NL Central-leading Chicago.

Arrieta (14-8) struck out four and retired the last seven batters he faced, leaving after 97 pitches with a 3-0 lead. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his nine starts since the All-Star break, going 6-1 with a 1.59 ERA during that span.

Before Tuesday, Arrieta had been 0-4 with a 7.29 ERA in his last six starts against the Pirates.

John Jaso went 2 for 2 with a homer and reached in all four plate appearances for Pittsburgh.

Wade Davis got the final three outs for his 27th save in 27 chances to establish a new Cubs record for consecutive saves opportunities converted. Ryan Dempster saved 26 in a row from 2005-06.

Chad Kuhl (6-10) matched Arrieta through five innings but ran into trouble immediately in the sixth. His first pitch was a 95-mph fastball down the middle that Zobrist hit into the bleachers in right center.

Kyle Schwarber followed with a walk and Rizzo doubled one out later. After Tommy LaStella was intentionally walked to load the bases, Avila singled to score Schwarber.

Heyward stretched the lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly against reliever A.J. Schugel.

Jaso’s solo homer in the seventh off Koji Uehara made it 3-1.

Rizzo gave the Cubs an insurance run in the eighth with his 200th career double.

Trainer’s room

Pirates: RHP Joaquin Benoit (inflamed left knee) and LHP Wade LeBlanc (strained left quadriceps) each pitched a simulated game in the bullpen on Tuesday. “It was a good effort by both guys out there,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Physically, they seemed to be pretty on spot.”

Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (left lat tightness and shoulder fatigue) will throw a side session on Wednesday after tossing 47 pitches in a simulated game on Monday.

Up next

Both Cubs lefty Jose Quintana (4-3, 4.50 ERA) and Pirates righty Ivan Nova (11-11, 3.97) will be looking to bounce back from rough outings in the series finale Wednesday night. Quintana allowed six runs in five innings Sunday against Philadelphia.