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 "He absolutely has to be in that (MVP) conversation," said Cubs
manager Joe Maddon after Arrieta's one-hit, nine strikeout
performance in Sunday's 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"What he's done in the second half is, I guess, unparalleled.
Nobody's ever seen what he's doing right now."
Arrieta (21-6) threw 84 pitches -- 54 for strikes -- over seven
innings as he collected a franchise-record 19th straight quality
start and 10th win in 11 outings, a run that included one
no-decision and a no-hitter.
"He definitely had no-hitter stuff tonight," said Maddon. "I talked
about it earlier in the year, I thought there was another level to
him. I think you're seeing it right now."
Arrieta even contributed a second-inning home run -- his second of
the season -- as the Cubs (90-65) snapped a three-game losing streak
and avoided a series sweep.
Along with his homer, Arrieta also sent a long drive to the warning
track in the sixth.
Third baseman Kris Bryant went 2-for-4 with an RBI while catcher
Miguel Montero and second baseman Starlin Castro also had two hits
apiece for the Cubs.
In the seventh, Castro's ground-rule double off the top edge of the
left-field bleachers scored center fielder Dexter Fowler and
pinch-hitter Austin Jackson for a 4-0 lead.
Arrieta was perfect though six innings, then gave up a leadoff
single to right fielder Gregory Polanco and hit center fielder
Andrew McCutchen with a pitch with one out. But he preserved the
shutout when third baseman Aramis Ramirez grounded into an
inning-ending double play.
Arrieta, who has an 0.89 ERA with 140 strikeouts through his last 19
starts, hasn't lost since July 25 when he gave up three earned runs
in six innings vs. the Phillies.
"I see some of the information, people tell me things about the
comparables," Arrieta said. "It's pretty exciting, but there's still
work to be done. It's nice to put a little thought into it and then
move forward and continue to pursue the goals we set for ourselves."
Pirates right-handed starter A.J. Burnett (9-6) worked six solid
innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. He struck out five and
walked a pair.
"You want to go up against the best," Burnett said. "He's having a
great year and he's got great stuff and it puts you on your game,
too."
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Pittsburgh (95-61) then went through a parade of four pitchers in
the seventh until right-hander Arquimedes Caminero closed the
inning.
Cubs left-hander Travis Wood worked the final two innings, allowing
just one baserunner while striking out two.
Bryant's one-out single to left-center in the first inning brought
home Fowler for a 1-0 Cubs lead.
Chicago went on to load the bases as first baseman Anthony Rizzo
walked and Castro beat out an infield single. But Burnett escaped
more damage by striking out right fielder Jorge Soler while Montero
grounded to second.
Arrieta helped his cause in the second, launching a 1-0 Burnett
pitch to right field for his second home run of the season and a 2-0
Cubs lead.
Pittsburgh's one hit was its fewest at Wrigley Field since June 8,
1958.
"We have had a really good road trip," said Pirates manager Clint
Hurdle. "You go 8-2 on a 10-day road trip where we went to play,
very positive and a lot of good things going on. ... (Now) we get to
go home and play the team we're hunting."
Pittsburgh hosts St. Louis in a three-game series starting Monday.
NOTES: SS Jordy Mercer was batting .368 in 10 games since INF Jung
Ho Kane was lost for the season on Sept. 17. ... The Pirates send
LHP J.A. Happ (6-2, 2.28 ERA) against Cardinal RHP Lance Lynn
(12-10, 3.16 ERA) in Monday's series opener at PNC Park. ... The
Cubs close their home regular season on Monday with a makeup game
against AL Central champion Kansas City. ... Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks
(7-7, 4.23) goes against Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (12-8, 4.40 ERA)
in Monday's regular-season finale at Wrigley Field.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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