As much as I would’ve liked to believe the Dodgers could pull this series sweep off in a Jake Arrieta/Alex Wood match-up, the odds were always against them, and the Cubs showed why in today’s 2-0 win.
Oh yeah, Arrieta threw a no-hitter. The Cubs right-hander showed why he’s a legitimate ace on any staff and is in the run for the NL Cy Young, as he struck out 12 and walked only one on the night. I know the Dodgers aren’t hitting well recently, but I don’t think it would’ve mattered the way Arrieta was locating and had his stuff working.
As for the offense, a homer by Kris Bryant in the first inning put the Cubs up 2-0, and Wood was over 53 pitches through two. But he settled down real quick after that, showing arguably his best stuff in the season in striking out seven over six innings of work. Wood only allowed the previously mentioned two runs, and he got through 102 pitches, which was important for a tiring Dodgers pen. And speaking of the pen, they managed to get through three innings without imploding or giving up anything, really.
Not that it mattered, of course.
This is the second time the Dodgers have been no-hit in nine days, after the Astros‘ Mike Fiers did it seemingly yesterday. That’s not a great feeling, but judging by the reactions on social media, it feels appropriate to remind everybody that the Dodgers beat the Cubs’ #2 and #3 starters in this series and just won five in a row, so maybe back off the cliff, you know?
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Worst part? This Enrique Hernandez potential injury:
Kike Hernandez left game with what looked like a leg injury. Justin Turner at 3B.
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) August 31, 2015
Also this is cool … or not:
Dodgers were no-hit 9 days ago. They won't set a MLB record, though. 1917 White Sox went down on consecutive days, May 5 and 6.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 31, 2015
NL record is in play. 20 days, by the 1971 Reds and 1965 Cubs.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 31, 2015