Jake Arrieta baffles Cardinals in 7-0 win for Cubs
By Brad Rowland
Just hours after he was recalled from the minor leagues, Jake Arrieta put together one of the best starts of his entire MLB career.
The right-hander threw 7 shutout innings against the high-powered St. Louis Cardinals, and in the process, led the lowly Cubs to a 7-0 victory. In his 7 frames, Arrieta allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out a batter per inning. With the performance, he lowered his ERA to a sparkling 0.69 with the Cubs, and for the season, his previously dismal ERA is now a more respectable 4.91.
Of course, the Cubs offense also produced a great deal against St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook. The team held a 6-0 lead before Westbrook departed in the 7th inning, and even Arrieta contributed an RBI thanks to a successful sacrifice bunt. From there, Arrieta handed the baton off to James Russell (who churned out a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th) and Blake Parker for the finishing touches on a win.
In the grand scheme, a shutdown performance from a Cubs pitcher, when they are 53-68 in August, isn’t exactly front page news. However, Arrieta has the pedigree of a big-time prospect in his favor, and if this represents his true “ceiling”, he could be a part of the future plans of the Cubs.