Chicago Cubs’ Jake Arrieta tosses no-hitter against Reds
Jake Arrieta threw a no hitter in the Chiacgo Cubs 16-0 victory over the CIncinnati Reds, the second no-hitter of his career.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta tossed the first no-hitter of the 2016 season Thursday night in a 16-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Arrieta needed 119 pitches to complete his gem. He struck out six Reds and walked four.
The no-hitter was the second of Arrieta’s career. He also blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers last August 30 in Dodger Stadium. In that game, Arrieta struck out 12 and the start capped off a 6-0 month for the Cubs ace. The no-hitter highlighted Arrieta’s torrid second half as went on to a 22-6 season with a 1.77 ERA and 4.92 strikeout to walk ratio. Arrieta would go on to win the National League Cy Young Award.
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Thursday’s dominant start moved the Cubs to 12-4 on the season and Arrieta to 4-0 with a minuscule 0.87 ERA. He has 26 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.
He had lots of help preserving the no-no. Third baseman Kris Bryant made a long throw to nab Zack Cozart at first base in the third inning and also drove in six runs on two home runs, including a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning.
Shortstop Addison Russell started this nifty double play to end the sixth inning in support of Arrieta. (The play came after the Cubs had narrowly missed turning a double play on the previous batter.)
The final three innings were devoid of drama, as the Reds made weak contact, barely testing the Cubs defense after that double play.
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The Cubs hit five home runs in the game. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and catcher David Ross hit home runs in the top of the sixth inning and second baseman Ben Zobrist homered in the top of the second.