Déjà vu: Jake Arrieta nearly perfect as Cubs defeat Pirates
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The opponents may change, but Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta’s numbers remain the same. The ace was nearly perfect during Sunday’s 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In fact, Arrieta did not allow a baserunner until the start of the seventh inning. Gregory Polanco singled to open the frame, ending Arrieta’s bid for a perfect game. Arrieta would hit Andrew McCutchen later in the inning, but those were the only two players to reach base against the pitcher.
Arrieta lasted seven shutout innings, giving up just one hit. He struck out nine, and did not issue any walks during the outing.
The performance was pretty much what Cubs’ fans have come to expect from the 29-year-old the past couple months.
With the win, Arrieta improved to 21-6 on the season. He’s expected to be a strong candidate for the NL Cy Young award and should receive some down-ballot MVP votes.
The Cubs improved to 90-65 behind Arrieta’s start. The club has already clinched a wild card spot in the National League. They trail the Pirates for the top wild card spot by 4.5 games.
DONALDSON DOES IT AGAIN
Speaking of déjà vu, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson has done it again. The 29-year-old delivered a walk-off hit during Sunday’s 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
With the game tied 4-4, Donaldson stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the bases empty. On the second pitch of the at-bat, he delivered. Donaldson belted an 83 mph slider out to left field for the walk-off shot.
Donaldson is now hitting .299/.373/.578, with 41 home runs, in 688 plate appearances. He’s expected to be one of the front-runners for the AL MVP award.
With the win, the Blue Jays improved to 90-65 on the year.
HOUSTON HOLDS OFF LA FOR ANOTHER DAY
The Houston Astros are desperately trying to hold on to a playoff spot. The club got the job done Sunday, beating the Texas Rangers 4-2.
Not surprisingly, they did it behind the strength of a Dallas Keuchel start. Keuchel was fantastic once again, giving up just one run on two hits over seven innings. He struck out 10 and walked two during the outing.
Then again, Keuchel was starting at home, so perhaps we should have seen this coming.
With the win, the Astros improved to 82-74 on the season. The team holds a half game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for the second wild card spot in the American League.
ANGELS REFUSE TO FALTER
The Astros needed that win Sunday, because the Los Angeles Angels refuse to go quietly. The Angels picked up their fifth-straight victory, beating the Seattle Mariners 3-2.
The two teams went back and forth until Kole Calhoun broke things open in the eighth inning. With the game tied 2-2, Calhoun stepped to the plate with a man on third and one out.
He would deliver. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Calhoun singled to right on an 85 mph slider. Taylor Featherston came across to score, giving Los Angeles the one run lead.
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The club would hold on in the ninth inning. With closer Huston Street sidelined, the team turned to Mike Morin. Morin tossed a perfect inning, picking up two strikeouts in the process.
With the win, the Angels improved to 81-74 on the season. The team is just a half game out of the second AL wild card spot.
Want to see more from Sunday’s slate of games? Check out our scoreboard.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
