Cubs Advance Behind Jake Arrieta’s Shutout of Pirates

The Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in the National League Wild Card playoff in Pittsburgh on October 7th behind Jake Arrieta’s complete game shutout. The Cubs will play the St. Louis Cardinals in one of the best of five National League Division Series beginning Friday in St. Louis.

Arrieta had one of the better post season pitching performances, well, ever. While it wasn’t quite Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series, Arrieta was overpowering . He allowed just four hits, struck out 11, and walked none. Arrieta’s shutout was the first in the post season for a Cubs pitcher since Claude Passeau pitched one against the Detroit Tigers in the 1945 World Series. Of course, the Cubs haven’t been in the post season that many times in past 70 years. This was just business as usual for Arrieta, whose 22 victories during the regular season led the majors. He hasn’t lost a game since July 25th.

However things turnout in the Cardinals’ series, this very young Cubs team has a very bright future ahead of it. The long, slow process of building a team through the minors, instead of plugging and playing some retreads into the lineup for instant gratification, is bearing fruit.