Jake Arrieta 'super' again for Chicago Cubs
Did the cloud cover obscure the "super moon" for you Sunday night?
No worry.
The view of the pitcher's mound at Wrigley Field was way better, as the Cubs had their super man going in pitcher Jake Arrieta.
Already with a no-hitter to his credit on a Sunday night this season, Arrieta flirted with another during another dominant performance. He was perfect until the Pittsburgh Pirates' Gregory Polanco led off the seventh inning with a clean ground single to left field.
The Cubs came away with a 4-0 victory as Arrieta ran his own record to 21-6. He even hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center in the second inning to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. With the victory, the Cubs reached the 90-win mark for the season, as they're 90-65 and within 4½ games of the Pirates for the top wild-card spot.
Arrieta continues to strengthen his case for the Cy Young Award in the National League. Once seen as possibly third behind the Los Angeles Dodgers' Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, Arrieta no doubt has passed Kershaw and is neck and neck with Greinke.
Arrieta has an ERA of 1.82. Over his last 11 starts, the ERA is 0.44, and his 0.80 ERA in 14 starts since the all-star break is the lowest in major-league history.
Is he aware of the history he is making?
"I see some of the information," he said. "People tell me things about the comparables. It's pretty exciting. But there's still work to be done."
Now here's something else: Where does Arrieta fit in the race for Most Valuable Player? Washington slugger Bryce Harper is the presumed front-runner, and he would be a deserving MVP.
But who has been more valuable to the Cubs making it to the postseason than Arrieta, who has enjoyed a breakout season and a historic second-half run?
It's unlikely Arrieta would win the MVP, but it's not impossible to think he'd get some votes in the top five.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Arrieta has to be in the MVP conversation.
Catcher Miguel Montero said: "He's from another planet, man. No doubt in my mind he's the best right-handed pitcher in the game right now, and he showed it."
Arrieta always talks team goals, but he does allow himself to think about the two big individual awards.
"When I'm with the family and the kids are in bed and (wife) Brittany and I are talking, we'll talk about things like that, what if, the excitement that goes along with things like that," he said. "But it's pretty short-lived for the moment because we've got a lot on our plate, some big tasks at hand, and I think those deserve a little more focus than some other things."
Although we're nearing the end of the regular season, Arrieta is showing no signs of slowing down or wearing down. He's also 3-1 with an 0.75 ERA against the Pirates this season, and he could well face them in the wild-card playoff game Oct. 7.
He came out firing Sunday, striking out two in each of the first three innings. After Polanco singled, Starling Marte struck out as Polanco stole second base. Arrieta hit Andrew McCutchen with a pitch but got out of the inning when Aramis Ramirez grounded into a double play.
Cubs scouting report
Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WBBM 780-AM
Pitching matchup: The Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (7-7) vs. Yordano Ventura (12-8) today at 7:05 p.m.
At a glance: This is a makeup of the game rained out on May 30. The defending American League champion Royals have sputtered of late, but they still have clinched the AL Central. The Royals entered Sunday tied for last in the AL with the White Sox for home runs (133). Kendrys Morales entered the day with 21 homers and 105 RBI. Eric Hosmer had a line of .302/.365/.455 with 16 homers and 87 RBI. Cubs pitchers and Cubs hitters went into Sunday leading the National League in strikeouts. This is the last home game of the regular season for the Cubs.
Next: Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, Tuesday-Thursday
- Bruce Miles