In what was truly an entertaining start to the 2015 MLB postseason, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night, 4-0. Backed by a record-breaking performance by starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, the North Siders won their first playoff game since 2003.
While the Cubs were the favorite to win the game, many experts did not expect them to dominate at the level they did. Chicago got off to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Kyle Schwarber blooped a single to left field to score Dexter Fowler. Schwarber then hit an absolute bomb — a 450 foot, two-run shot out of the stadium and into the Allegheny River.
But the Cubs also flashed the leather as well. Rookie Kris Bryant had two tough back-hand plays at third base, and he caught a smoked line drive that he knocked into the air and spun around completing the acrobatic play.
But the defensive play of the game came on a hit ball that did not result in an out. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Andrew McCutchen roped a ball up the middle and rookie short stop Addison Russell dove to his glove side, saving the ball from entering the outfield, which would have resulted in the Pirates first run of the night. The bases stayed loaded, and the next batter, Starling Marte, grounded into an inning-ending double play, giving the final momentum to the Cubs.
Oh, and have I mentioned that Arrieta had a record breaking night? The righty Cy Young candidate had 11 strikeouts and zero walks. He also became the first pitcher in postseason history to throw a shutout with 10 strike outs and zero walks.
“I haven’t felt this way all year,” Arrieta said, via the post game interview. “This atmosphere and energy was awesome.”
In true NL Central fashion, tempers flared in the seventh inning when Pirates pitcher Tony Watson hit Arrieta in the hip. Arrieta started walking to first base when he stopped, shared some words with Watson, and then benches cleared. Pirates player Sean Rodriguez was ejected for attempting to punch some Cubs players.
Things calmed down as Arrieta was on cruise control, and shut down the Pirates, in order, in the ninth inning.
The party started immediately in Chicago as the streets of Wrigleyville were flooded.
The celebration is on in #Chicago after #Cubs beat #Pirates in #WildCard game: http://t.co/pv1e1DqHE3 pic.twitter.com/FVfeKibrqO
— Sun-Times Sports (@suntimes_sports) October 8, 2015
While the Cubbies ended a nine-game postseason losing streak, the Pirates have now lost their last four playoff games in a row, including the last two at home.
The steaming hot Cubs will travel to St. Louis to take on the NL Central champs on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET. Lefty Jon Lester will most likely be taking the mound for Chicago, with Arrieta becoming available by game three.
As a reminder to all the Cubs faithful out there, the Cubs win the World Series in the movie Back to the Future…in 2015.