Game One Hundred Twenty-Nine – Cubs 2, Dodgers 0
WP – Jake Arrieta (17-6) LP – Alex Wood (9-9) Save – None
Jake Arrieta snapped the Cubs skid Sunday night by putting his name in the history books. Jake Arrieta no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers and completed one of the most dominating performances in franchise history.
Jake Arrieta faced two over the minimum. Kike Hernandez reached on a Starlin Castro error in the third inning and Arrieta walked Jimmy Rollins on four pitches with two outs in the sixth. Arrieta struck out a season-high 12 batters on 116 pitches, 80 for strikes.
Jake Arrieta completed the 14th no-hitter in Cubs history, 10th since 1900 and the first since Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros at Miller Park on Sept. 14, 2008. Arrieta completed the 12th no-hitter in Dodger Stadium history. And Arrieta had a 98 game score Sunday night, the best for a Cubs pitcher since Kerry Wood (105) struck out 20 Astros on May 6, 1998.
The Dodgers hit only six balls out of the infield all night. And Arrieta struck out the side in the ninth to complete the No-No.
Kris Bryant (1-for-5 with a home run and two RBI) supplied all of the runs Jake Arrieta would need in the first inning. Bryant hit a two-run homer with Chris Denorfia (1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored) along for the ride. Bryant picked the right time to hit his first homer outside of Wrigley Field since June 17.
The Cubs did not have any problems getting their hits Sunday night. Dexter Fowler (3-for-5 with a double), Starlin Castro (3-for-5 with a double) and Miguel Montero (2-for-4) had multi-hit games. Jake Arrieta (1-for-4) singled in the eighth and Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4 with a walk) reached base two times Sunday night. The Cubs recorded 13 hits, but struggled with runners in scoring position (0-for-9) and left 12 men on-base.
The Cubs finished the six-game West Coast trip with a 2-4 record after winning one of three at Dodger Stadium. The Cubs wrapped up the season-series against the Dodgers with a 3-4 record.
With Sunday’s win (13-9 on Sunday in 2015), the Cubs improved to 74-55 on the season.
Dexter Fowler went down swinging (2-2 pitch) to start the game. Chris Denorfia looked at three straight out of the zone before taking a strike. Denorfia walked.
Kris Bryant pulled a 0-1 pitch to left. Bryant’s blast got out of Dodger Stadium in a hurry and gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead
Anthony Rizzo rolled out to short. Starlin Castro singled to left on Wood’s first pitch and went to third on a bloop single to right off the bat of Matt Szczur. With runners on the corners, Miguel Montero rolled a 1-1 pitch up the first baseline. Wood fielded the ball and got the out at first to end the inning. Alex Wood made 22 pitches in the first, 12 for strikes.
Jake Arrieta set the Dodgers down in order on 15 pitches, 11 for strikes, in the first inning.
After one, the Cubs had a 2-0 lead.
While Jake Arrieta was dealing, the Cubs had numerous chances to add to the lead. After eight innings, the Cubs were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
The game went to the ninth with the Cubs leading 2-0 and the Dodgers without a hit.
Dexter Fowler led off with his third hit of the night, a single to center. Pedro Baez struck out Kyle Schwarber (swinging) and Kris Bryant (looking). Anthony Rizzo singled to right. With Fowler at third, Starlin Castro grounded out to third for the final out.
Jake Arrieta took the hill after throwing 98 pitches, 66 for strikes, in the first eight innings.
Jake Arrieta struck out Justin Turner (swinging), Jimmy Rollins (looking) and Chase Utley (swinging) to end the game … and complete the first no-hitter of his career.
The Cubs open a six-game homestand Monday night (7:05pm CDT) with the first of three against the Reds. Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to face Michael Lorenzen.