Chicago Cubs’ Jake Arrieta masterful in collecting win No. 20

Arrieta tosses complete game shutout to claim win No. 20

It was pretty close to a storybook ending. Striking out the side would have been the best way to end it, but a slow groundout works just fine too. The Chicago Cubs Jake Arrieta allowed just three hits while completing his fourth game of the year–his third shutout–in winning his 20th game of the season. Kris Bryant set the rookie home record with his 26th as the Cubs topped the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 to drop the Magic Number to three.

Arrieta (20-6, 1.88) continues to make his case for the NL Cy Young by winning his 20th game and also lowering his ERA to 1.88, trailing only the Dodger Zack Greinke with a 1.65. Of the three hits allowed tonight, only one left the infield. It’s becoming hard for me to believe that you can make this argument that the Cy Young in Greinke’s to lose. But I digress.

The Cubs (89-62) got a little bit of history in the third when Bryant launched a two-run home run off of Tyler Cravy (0-8, 6.21) into the left-field seats to set the rookie home record. Thos were the only runs Cravy allowed, but it was enough to saddle the Brewers’ (63-88) spot starter with his eighth loss of the season.

The Brewers defense helped the Cubs out by misplaying a short pop off the bat in Kyle Schwarber which was ruled a double and led to Dexter Fowler coming around to score in the fifth inning. The Arrieta train was reaching top speed at that point and even with the Cubs adding one more in the eight, that was all Jake would need.

Arrieta struck out 11 against just one walk in becoming the Cubs first 20-game winner since Jon Lieber in 2001. I don’t think Cubs’ fans will have to wait that long again to see another one with Arrieta and Jon Lester around.

Next: Lieber simply lucky in his 20-win season