Chicago Cubs And Arrieta Blank Pirates 4-0, Move On To Face Cards


The Chicago Cubs may turn out to be the team of Destiny. They took the lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back. The Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in the National League Wild Card Game to advance to the National League Championship Series.

In the top of the first, catcher Kyle Schwarber dumped a single into left field. That was enough for speedy Dexter Fowler to make his way home and put the Cubs up 1-0. After only three batters, the Cubs already had enough runs for the stingy Jake Arrieta.

This has been the best season of Arrietta’s career and he let the baseball world see it Wednesday night. He had masterful control of his pitches and painted the plate like a modern day Rembrandt. The Cubs ace handcuffed the Pirates and looked like he was inside their heads all night.

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 07: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the National League Wild Card game at PNC Park on October 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates with a score of 4 to 0. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Cubs pitcherJake Arrieta reacts after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates

The PNC park fans tried to rattle the Cubs bearded right-hander, but he was dialed in. The crowd chanted “Ar-eee-ett-aahh,” while Jake was on the mound. The Cy Young candidate went about his business like a race horse wearing blinders. He wasn’t bothered one bit. He seemed to feed off of the atmosphere.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs pitcher Arrieta is a lock for the Cy Young award. His numbers are unreal, when looked at from a mere human standpoint. Dodgers pitcher Greinke finished with a better ERA (1.66 to Arrieta’s 1.77) as well as a better WHIP (0.84 to 0.86 for Arrieta) and WAR (9.3 to 8.6 for Arrieta), but Arrieta is coming off the best second half in the history of baseball. His 0.75 ERA for the second half of the season has never been done.

The rest of the Cubs gave their ace all the runs he needed. In the top of the third inning, Kyle Schwarber wasn’t done. He lifted a slider out of PNC Park. His two run blast put the Cubs up 3-0. With Arrieta’s ERA, that was enough to win three games.

In the top of the fifth, Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler collected his third hit of the night. He took a badly placed fastball and sent it screaming into the right field stands. That home run gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead and they cruised the rest of the game.

Pirates’ pitcher Gerrit Cole had no answer for the Cubs offensive attack. He lasted only five innings. While he only gave up four runs, that was all the Cubs needed to put Pittsburgh away. The game was firmly in the hands of Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs.

Cool heads did not prevail in the seventh inning. A bench clearing brawl broke out between the Cubs and Pirates. Order was slowly restored. After the chaos, Arrieta was standing on first base. With two out, he stole second base without a throw. Add another accomplishment to the Chicago ace’s growing list of superhero deeds.

The Pirates made a mild attempt at a comeback, but the damage done was too severe. The Cubs ace pitched a complete game shutout allowing only four hits while punching out 11. The Pirates had the three batters they would want to bat in the bottom of the ninth drama, but Arrietta was too good.

Cubs Win Wild Card Game
The Chicago Cubs Celebrate their Wild Card victory

Arrieta was jubilant after his masterful performance over the Pirates. In a statement from The New York Times, he was emotional and spent.

“I’m exhausted. I haven’t felt this way all year. This atmosphere, the energy, it was unbelievable.”

The Chicago Cubs erupted after the last out and sprinted onto the field. Gatorade showers rained on the heads of the victorious boys in blue.

The Cubs believed. Maybe now the rest of the world will too.

[Photo by Jared Wickerham, Justin K. Aller / Getty Images]

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