A Tip of the Recap – August 20th
Jake Arrieta pitched a great game and played stopper for the Cubs’ losing streak while the bats produced to help lead the Cubs to a 7-1 victory tonight over the Braves.
The Good
Jake Arrieta didn’t have his best stuff but it was definitely good enough to quiet one of the worst offenses in the game. Arrieta went 6 shutout innings, giving up just 4 hits (all singles) while walking 1 and striking out 7. The win gives him a 15-6 record (first pitcher to 15 wins) with a sparkling 2.30 ERA on the year. If Arrieta finishes the season healthy, there is no reason to think that he won’t be in the conversation for the Cy Young award.
The bats really left no doubt in this one, slugging 2 HRs while doing their damage in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings of the game.
Dexter Fowler had his 6th multi-hit game out of the last 7 as he finished 2 for 4 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot. He now has 14 hits in his last 7 games as he continues to stay hot.
The Cubs improved to 13-1 when Chris Coghlan hits 3rd; he went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI (34 on the year). He got the Cubs on the board in the 3rd with an RBI single then in the 5th he hit an RBI triple (3rd triple) while scoring on a double by Miguel Montero (his 7th double and 35th RBI).
Anthony Rizzo had the big blow of the night with a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 3rd to put the Cubs up 4-0. He took a 98 MPH fastball on the inside part of the plate and hit a missile down the RF line and off the scoreboard. It was his 24th HR and he now has 73 RBI on the year with his .291 AVG.
Addison Russell is starting to really make meaningful adjustments as he went 2 for 4 with a single and his 8th HR of the year (a solo shot to LF). He makes very solid contact and his HR was a no-doubter, bringing his AVG up to a more respectable .244.
Justin Grimm and Tommy Hunter both turned in scoreless work from the pen with Grimm going 2/3 of an inning without surrendering a hit or a walk and lowering his ERA to 1.27. Hunter gave up a single in the 9th, but that was it as he got the final 3 outs of the ballgame.
The Bad
It is hard to pick something bad about this one for the Cubs; solid hitting and great pitching equaled the end of a 3-game losing streak. Also, the Pirates beat the Giants and the Cubs extended their Wild Card lead to 4 games with their win, so all in all a great night for Cubs baseball.
On Deck
The Cubs are back in action tomorrow afternoon for game 2 against the Braves at 3:05 PM (CST) on CSN and MLB Network. Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 3.97) will be called upon as he faces off against probably the Braves’ best starter Shelby Miller (5-9, 2.43).