Chicago Cubs: Top 5 Jake Arrieta moments as we bid farewell

Chicago Cubs: Top 5 Jake Arrieta moments – #5: His first no-hitter

Let’s start with Jake Arrieta’s first career no-hitter in 2015. In an oddball game that saw the Cubs rack up 13 hits and leave 12 on base, only scoring a pair of runs, it didn’t much matter. Arrieta was absolutely dominant in this one. He was one bad pitch away from a perfect game that ultimately was called ball four instead, notching the only walk allowed from #49 on the evening.

The right-hander tossed 116 pitches, fanning the side in the ninth for his 10th, 11th and12th punchouts of the ballgame. In the process, Arrieta improved to 17-6 in the midst of one of the greatest second halves ever, lowering his ERA at the time to 2.11. That mark would only continue downward from there.

Memories like this solidified Arrieta’s reputation at the top of the rotation. Backed by Arrieta’s dominance on the mound, the Cubs were beginning to turn the corner from Lovable Losers to a winning ball club. Something special was starting to happen on the North Side of Chicago and fans had awaited their entire life for it. This team was different than the early 2000’s team. This team was poised to make some noise … and it only got better the following year in 2016.