Cubs ace Jake Arrieta becomes first 20-game winner with shutout
Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta authored another chapter in a memorable season Tuesday night by throwing a complete game shutout to become the first 20-game winner this season in Major League Baseball.
Arrieta struck out 11 and allowed just three hits to the Milwaukee Brewers as he reached the 20-win milestone coveted by every starting pitcher and continuing to make a case for the National League Cy Young Award.
He was already well over 100 pitches when he stepped out of the home team’s dugout at Wrigley Field to head to the mound in the top of the ninth inning. The 36,270 in attendance showered him with applause and he responded by striking out two of the three batters he faced to complete the 4-0 victory.
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Arrieta became the first Cubs’ pitcher to win 20 games in a season since Jon Lieber did so in 2001. It was the 18th consecutive quality start Arrieta has produced. He retired 14 straight at one point before giving up an infield hit in the fifth to Hernan Perez.
It was also a memorable night for rookie third baseman Kris Bryant who hit his 26th home run of the season to set a new Cubs’ rookie record. Bryant drove in three of the team’s four runs with fellow rookie Kyle Schwarber knocking in the other.
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Arrieta threw 123 pitches and 85 went for strikes. He lowered his ERA to 1.88 and led the Cubs to their 89th win of the season. His primary competition for the Cy Young comes from the Los Angeles Dodgers tandem of Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. It is making for one of the most interesting Cy Young decisions in recent memory.
Chicago has leaned heavily on Arrieta and he has come through consistently all season, going 9-1 in starts following a Cubs’ loss.
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Kyle Ringo is a contributing writer to Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo
