Imrem: Outcome position for Chicago Cubs' Arrieta

Tuesday night was like October in July in Wrigley Field … and a little bit like Christmas in July for the Cubs.

Jake Arrieta pitched for the first time in 11 days, and the results indicated that his tired mind and weary right arm were regenerated.

The stakes made it seem like the postseason and red, white and blue bunting should have been hanging from the upper deck. Players should have been introduced along the baselines before the first pitch. Fireworks should have punctuated the national anthem.

On this night it wasn't whether the Cubs won or lost - the Mets beat them 2-1 after Arrieta departed - it's how he played the game.

The Mets being the opponent had little to do with the evening being meaningful. Arrieta pitching had everything to do with it.

So how did Arrieta do?

Just fine, thank you.

Arrieta was sharp at the start, a first-pitch fastball strike to Mets leadoff hitter Jose Reyes, and crisp at the finish, when he left after seven innings with the scored tied at 1-1.

"He pitched really well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's good to see Jake pound the strike zone. It's something to build on."

That problem Arrieta had recently with control? No problem: Only 22 called balls were among his 85 pitches.

Of course, Cubs fans, you knew that would be the case, right? The 41,456 in the ballpark and the ones at home might have winked and nodded like they knew all along that Arrieta would be all right, right?

What, you worry?

Well, maybe a little. Arrieta just hadn't been Arrieta the past month, failing too often to even make it into the sixth inning.

Then the man with the sturdy Body by Jake expressed a preference to not pitch in last week's All-Star Game because of fatigue.

So, big sighs of relief were understandable as Arrieta methodically set down the Mets.

"It was a little more like it," Arrieta said.

What made the difference? Did "Ghostbusters" bust the ghosts haunting Arrieta? Was the long layoff really all that he needed?

The biggest question is whether the Scarietta is over or merely interrupted.

Arrieta will have to string together a series of strong starts before he can be taken for granted again.

The presumption is that the Cubs can't win the World Series if Arrieta isn't pitching at his best.

That might be an oversimplication considering that so many No. 1 pitchers on so many other playoff contenders are either struggling or injured.

What would happen if Major League Baseball scheduled a World Series and no aces showed up? Would any team be able to win the championship? Could a collection of No. 2s get the job done?

Maybe the Cubs could, but life would be so much easier if Jake Arrieta is the Jake Arrieta that everyone grew to know and love.

"To get him back on track," Maddon said, "is important."

No wonder the scrutiny was intense from the moment Arrieta walked in from the bullpen to face the Mets.

What's the spin on Arrieta's slider compared to that of the planet? Is his fastball fast enough to not gather moss? Is the depth of his beard deeper than the deepest ocean?

The answers were positive enough to make it seem like Christmas in July even though the Mets rallied to beat the Cubs' bullpen.

mimrem@dailyherald.com