MIAMI -- Jake Arrieta made it look easy, then made it sound easy. Ray Black Jersey . The Chicago Cubs right-hander had a career-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings to beat the Miami Marlins 6-1 on Wednesday. Arrieta (3-1) lowered his ERA to 1.98, and he has 55 strikeouts in 50 innings. "Im not doing anything different," he said. "Im just commanding everything down in the strike zone and trying to force early contact. Strikeouts are just a byproduct of throwing several plus pitches for strikes." Arrieta has become one of the few bright spots for the last-place Cubs, although they have been playing better lately. By taking the rubber game of the three-game set, they won consecutive road series for the first time since June 2013. Chicago went 5-5 on a three-city swing. "We had a nice trip," manager Rick Renteria said. "Thats big. Were playing some consistent baseball." Miamis Giancarlo Stanton hit his NL-leading 20th homer in the first but left the game after six innings with a bruised left wrist. Stanton said the injury wasnt serious, and he expected to be back in the lineup Thursday against the New York Mets. But his wrist was swollen and bothered him more as the game progressed. "It was getting tighter and tighter," he said. "On swings and misses, it hurts a lot." Stanton hasnt missed a game this season, and he leads the NL in homers and RBIs with 57. Thats why manager Mike Redmond took no chances with the injury. "We need this guy for the long haul," Redmond said. "He wanted to stay in, but Im thinking about tomorrow and the next day." Stanton was hurt when he hit the wall in the first inning chasing a flyball. Nate Schierholtz hit a three-run homer for the Cubs. Starlin Castro had two RBI doubles and single batting cleanup. "I like batting fourth because there are usually runners on base," Castro said. "I just like that they put me in a spot and leave me there. If they keep moving me around, it breaks my concentration." Arrieta allowed five hits and one walk. He also doubled for his first career extra-base hit, but Renteria was more impressed with his pitching. Arrieta has 27 strikeouts in 20 innings over his past three starts. "I think he is commanding his fastball better, and his breaking ball is starting to get some bite and location," Renteria said. "Hes got great stuff, and hes very composed." The Marlins agreed. "He was using his cutter in good spots and staying on the corners," Stanton said. "He did a good job." Schierholtz was in a 3-for-26 slump before he hit his third homer off Nathan Eovaldi (4-3) in the Cubs four-run sixth. Eovaldi, back from paternity leave after joining his wife in Texas for the birth of their first child Monday, declined to blame any distractions for his performance. "Youve got to be able to come back and perform," he said. "If anything, I was excited to get back to the guys and play." NOTES: The Marlins plan to recall RHP Kevin Gregg from Triple-A New Orleans on Thursday, and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (concussion) will be activated from the disabled list. To make room for them, the Marlins optioned LHP Dan Jennings to New Orleans and optioned C J.T. Realmuto to Double-A Jacksonville. ... Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade sat next to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria in the second row and drew a big ovation when he was shown on the video scoreboard. ... LHP Randy Wolf, who was designed for assignment Monday by the Marlins, opted for free agency. ... A Marlins promotion for disadvantaged children boosted attendance to 27,032. ... Marlins RHP Steve Cishek turned 28 Wednesday. Cubs OF Chris Coghlan turned 29. ... Cubs starters have allowed 32 homers, fewest in the majors. ... When torrential rain with wind gusts of up to 53 mph hit during Tuesdays game, the Marlins retractable roof leaked in six or seven places, which was to be expected given the severity of the storm, team president David Samson said. ... Marlins LHP Andrew Heaney makes his major-league debut Thursday against the New York Mets and RHP Zack Wheeler (2-7, 4.38). ... The Cubs open a series at home Friday when Edwin Jackson (4-7, 5.11) pitches against Pittsburghs Charlie Morton (4-7, 3.09). Ben Gamel Brewers Jersey . -- Ben Brust scored 19 points to lead six Wisconsin players in double figures as the No. Jacob Nottingham Brewers Jersey . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the teams deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1919y-ryan-braun-jersey-brewers.html . Watch all the action unfold live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. You can also watch the game live with the debut of Wednesday Night Hockey on TSN.ca and chat throughout the game with TSN.TORONTO -- Ryan Nelsen is left to improvise once more. A week ago, the rookie Toronto FC head coach welcomed Argentine Maximiliano Urruti to the club. The long-coveted youngster and his fellow countryman, Matias Laba, were to spend the rest of this disappointing season playing together with other newcomers expected to be key members of the Reds of the future, offering Nelsen and supporters a glimpse of a side poised to take a run at respectability. But with Laba now out of the line-up for up to six weeks after breaking his big toe in a 2-0 loss in Columbus last Saturday, Nelsens plan to finally see his core group in action is also on the shelf. "Whether youre at the top of league or the bottom of the league, these things happen," a philosophical Nelsen said Friday before the Reds flew to Washington and a date with D.C. United on Saturday night. "Its just life." So, instead of testing the chemistry between Laba, 21, and Urruti, 22, Nelsen said he will use the injury to give others an opportunity to audition for a more regular role in the side. "Weve got to the stage now where well be putting people into the firing line," Nelsen said. "Theyve got to play well or well change the team and see what other guys can do." Jeremy Hall, 24, is expected to be the first to get the opportunity to fill Labas shoes in the defensive midfield position. its a spot he patrolled regularly earlier in the season, having made 18 starts in 2013. "Its a tough loss for the team but at the same time guys are going to have to step up and show their worth to the coach and prove that they can still contribute to the team," said Hall, who has one goal in 22 appearances after moving from defender to midfield. "Im comfortable in there, so Im just going to have to do what Ive been doing at the beginning of the season and hopefully I can continue to do well." Toronto (4-12-8) goes into D.C. having lost two straight matches, which came after the club posted its first two-game win streak in more than a year. The Reds won 2-1 in Washington on June 115. Josh Hader Brewers Jersey. While very little has gone right in 2013 for D.C. (3-17-4), the leagues worst team has been given a spark by Luis Silva, 24. The California-born midfielder has scored three goals and added an assist in four appearances for United since being traded from Toronto for allocation money on July 9. "Its sad for us that hes not going to be on our team this weekend, but hes a good player, hes done well for D.C. and were going to have to keep an eye on him," Hall said of Silva, who leads his new club in scoring. "Im sure Luis is going to want to have a good one against us." Same goes for Toronto native and former Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario. The 35-year-old has battled injuries this season but the veteran has always been a handful for the Reds when they travel to D.C. He has six goals in three matches between the teams at RFK Stadium since he left Toronto early in the 2011 season, including a hat trick in his first match against his former side. Saturdays match also has special significance for Toronto striker Jeremy Brockie, 25. The New Zealand native will be play his final game of a loan deal from the Wellington Phoenix of Australias A-League. Though he said Friday has was "disappointed" to have only scored once in his first 14 matches with the Reds after an A-League season in which he scored 16 times in 24 games, Brockie said hes enjoyed MLS and Toronto and would be happy to return as a loan after the upcoming A-League campaign. "Its a very well-run club and all its missing really is the playoff contention so if the possibility was to come back one day then Id definitely be open to that," said Brockie, a New Zealand international who has two years remaining on his contract with Wellington. Nelsen, a former teammate of Brockies with New Zealand, said although the striker didnt find the back of the net as much as many had hoped, "hes helped out in so many ways on and off the field." "His professionalism day-in and day-out shows the younger players what its all about," Nelsen said. ' ' '