Chicago Cubs fall short in an Arrieta start
It looks like there are only a couple ways to beat the Chicago Cubs when Jake Arrieta pitches for them: Toss a no-hitter or a 1-hitter at them.
The Los Angeles Dodgers threw good pitching at the Cubs on Tuesday night, allowing only 1 hit in a 5-0 victory at Wrigley Field.
Arrieta started for the Cubs, and he pitched well. In fact, he looked as clean and sharp, especially with his fastball, as he has all year.
The ace of the Cubs' staff did not suffer the loss. That went to left-handed reliever Clayton Richard, who gave up singles to the only three batters he faced in relief in the eighth as he was charged with both runs that inning.
A 3-run homer by Corey Seager off Trevor Cahill in the ninth provided the Dodgers with insurance.
The loss snapped a string of 23 consecutive wins by the Cubs when Arrieta pitches. That tied the major-league record going back to 1913, a mark Arrieta now shares with Atlanta's Kris Medlin (2010-12). The last time Arrieta lost a decision was last July 25, when the Phillies' Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
On Tuesday, Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Kazmir went pitch for pitch with Arrieta. Kazmir worked 6 innings of 1-hit ball. Arrieta's record held at 9-0 while his ERA dropped from 1.72 to 1.56.
“Yeah, well, we did it to them last night,” Arrieta said, referring to the Cubs 1-hitting the Dodgers on Monday. “They came out and shut us down tonight. It comes down to a couple of pitches here and there, a couple of at-bats here and there that really decide the game, a tight one until the eighth or the ninth, as it was tonight.
“You play this game long enough, you're going to lose a game here and there. That's just kind of part of it. It was a good streak. We'll get started on something else.”
The Cubs had their winning streak snapped at six as they fell to 35-15. Manager Joe Maddon praised Arrieta and said it did feel different to lose a game he pitched.
“Of course,” Maddon said. “We've gotten used to winning when he pitches. It's not going to last forever. That's the nature of the game. And he pitched well enough for us to win tonight.”
The only serious trouble Arrieta faced came with two outs in the seventh, when he walked the bases loaded before reaching back and striking out pinch hitter Justin Turner. That completed a 27-pitch inning for Arrieta, who finished with 107 for the night.
“I didn't want to make a mistake in the middle of the plate,” Arrieta said. “I made some good pitches, borderline, didn't go my way. I pitched around some walks, got into a situation where I had to make a big pitch, and I was able to do so.”