It was another good day on the mound for Jake Arrieta. But Friday meant a little more to Arrieta as he faced his former team. Arrieta took a perfect game into the fifth inning and limited the Orioles to one run on four hits with a walk in seven innings, plus he singled off Kevin Gausman. The Cubs defense stepped up behind Arrieta as he struck out five on the afternoon and beat the Orioles.
Jake Arrieta improved to 7-4 on the season with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Arrieta has 127 strikeouts in 124 1/3 innings while surrendering only 93 hits, and 13 of those came in a single start at Coors Field.
Jake Arrieta is 11-6 in 29 starts for the Cubs since the trade with the Orioles. Arrieta has allowed 58 runs, 56 earned, on 127 hits with 56 walks and 164 strikeouts in 176 innings (2.86 ERA, 1.04 WHIP). And his former manager is happy for him and proud of the way he’s pitched with the Cubs.
Buck Showalter admitted Friday he pulls for Jake Arrieta when he pitches and he’s glad Arrieta has found success with the Cubs. Showalter said last July’s trade was a good one for both teams. The Cubs acquired Arrieta and Pedro Strop for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger, who is still in the Orioles’ organization.
The Orioles’ skipper told Comcast SportsNet that he spoke with Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop after the trade and thought at the time a change of scenery would be good for both of them.
And so far Buck Showalter was right.
Jacob Turner
Jacob Turner is ready to start if the Cubs need him to according to a report from Carrie Muskat. From all indications, Turner will take the hill for the Cubs in the opener of the three-game series in Cincinnati Tuesday. Turner would slide into the spot the Cubs opened by placing Edwin Jackson on the DL. Turner said he is stretched out enough to give the Cubs at least five innings.
Turner made his Cubs debut on Aug. 14 against the Brewers and threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball and was rather sharp. Turner pitched the first two innings of the suspended game with the Giants Thursday and was not as sharp. After another two hour delay, Turner replaced Tsuyoshi Wada for the top of the sixth and gave up a run. Turner settled down and faced the minimum in his second inning.
In order to get his pitch count up, the Cubs had Turner throw in the bullpen after Rick Renteria replaced him in the eighth inning with Pedro Strop.
Jacob Turner, along with Felix Doubront and Dan Straily are expected to make several starts for the Cubs over the last month of the season.
Wrigley Field Grounds Crew and Tarp-Gate
The Sun-Times reported Thursday night one of the reasons for the infield not being covered quickly enough to avoid what happened Tuesday was the team cut the ground crew’s hours to avoid playing health benefits.
Jon Greenberg spoke with Cubs spokesman Julian Green and Vince Pesha, the director of the Sports and Entertainment division of SEIU Local 1 about the report Friday.
According to the report from ESPN Chicago, Julia Green admitted “there have been organizational changes to ensure the business operation is run efficiently” and pointed out “that’s something every organization does.” Green assured ESPN Chicago the team did not “make any personnel decisions at the expense of making sure that field is ready for play.”
Vince Pesha told ESPN Chicago that there “haven’t been any union grievances over lost hours” but hours have been cut. But those cuts have more to do with economics than health care costs. According to the report, “there are fewer temporary workers at Wrigley and U.S. Cellular Fields because crowds have been sparse during an awful summer of Chicago baseball, bad weather included.” Pesha said if the teams were winning there would not be a problem. Pesha told ESPN Chicago, it’s the toughest summer he’s seen in 25 years.
Rusney Castillo
OF Rusney Castillo agreed to terms with the Red Sox on a seven-year, $72.5 million contract Friday. Multiple reports confirmed Castillo and the Sox agreed to terms and the signing is expected to be announced Saturday once he passes a physical.
Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday morning that Castillo’s deal includes an opt out after the 2019 season.
News and Notes
Brian Schlitter caught up with the I-Cubs in Reno and began his rehab assignment Friday night.
Javier Baez has quickly become must-see when he’s at the plate. Jake Arrieta admitted as much and told the beat writers “you want to see every one of that kid’s at-bats.”
The Wall Street Journal asked, are the Cubs trying to win games hurting attendance?
Billy McKinney keeps on hitting. In 43 games with the Daytona Cubs, McKinney is batting .306/.399/.442 with 11 doubles, three triples, one home run, 22 walks, 32 strikeouts and a .841 OPS. Billy McKinney turns 20 on Saturday (Aug. 23).
Pedro Strop admitted it was a little weird facing his former teammates Friday.
This Day In Cubstory
2013 – Cubs received Neil Ramirez from the Rangers as the PTBNL in the Matt Garza deal to complete the trade (Edwards, Olt, Grimm and Ramirez for Garza)
2012 – Cubs claimed Miguel Socolovich off waivers from the Orioles
2007 – Cubs acquired Craig Monroe from the Tigers for a PTBNL. Cubs sent Clay Rapada to Detroit to complete the trade on Aug. 30, 2007.
1998 – Sammy Sosa hit home runs No. 50 and 51 and joined Mark McGwire (53) with reaching the 50-home run plateau in the same season for only the second time in NL history. Ralph Kiner (Pirates) and Johnny Mize (Giants) both hit 51 home runs in 1947.
1983 – At Wrigley Field, Ferguson Jenkins lost to Reds’ rookie Jeff Russell (father of James Russell) 4-2. Russell hit the only home run of his career.
1977 – Cubs released Bobby Darwin
1975 – Rick Monday and Champ Summers hit pinch-hit home runs for the Cubs in a 14-12 loss to the Astros
1974 – Mark Bellhorn, born
1958 – Cubs selected Jim Marshall off waivers from the Orioles
1947 – Cubs signed free agent Billy Jurges
1929 – Cubs purchased Lon Warneke from Alexandria (Cotton States League) for $100
1909 – Cubs stole home three times, Johnny Evers, Del Howard and Solly Hofman, in an 11-6 win in Boston and tied a Major League record.