Jake Arrieta’s tape-measure home run shows Cubs’ ace can do it all
It’s almost like the 2015 season never ended for Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta.
The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is off to a strong start in 2016 on the mound and now at the plate. Arrieta crushed a 440-foot home run to center field on Sunday in Arizona off Diamondbacks starter Shelby Miller. The second-inning blast is Arrieta’s first home run of the season and third of his career.
[Sign up for Fantasy Baseball | Play for $40K | Expert rankings | Mock draft ]
And for a pitcher, it was nothing short of impressive. MLB.com reported it was the longest home run by a pitcher in the Statecast era, which dates back to the start of last season. The shot drove in catcher Miguel Montero and ignited the Cubs, who went on to win 7-3.
Chicago already has one of the most potent lineups in baseball providing run support for Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey and the rest of the pitching staff. Having those pitchers swing the bat effectively only compounds the problems for opponents.
Arrieta also earned his second win of the season, capping a stellar opening week for the Cubs’ ace. In his first two starts of the season, he has thrown 14 innings with 12 strikeouts and has a 1.93 ERA. He has issued only one walk.
[Bartolo Colon delighted fans with over-the-shoulder catch]
Arrieta didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday. he gave up eight hits, including two home runs. All three runs from Arizona were earned, but it was his 22nd consecutive quality start. And that’s really what you want in a starting pitcher, isn’t it? Consistency.
He pitched 229 innings last season and finished with a 1.77 ERA. So he’s not quite as dominant so for this season, but it’s early and he’s probably only going to get better as he continues to find his rhythm and the weather warms up.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
The StewPod: A baseball podcast by Yahoo Sports
Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS feed
– – – – – – –
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
