“I’m really just trying to enjoy it as much as I can”. But regardless of who wins that theoretical battle between Kershaw and Arrieta (or any other pitcher you care to throw into the conversation), there is no denying the otherworldly talent of the Cubs’ righty.
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His dominant pitching actually overshadowed an impressive offensive game for the Cubs, as the team went yard five times, including a grand slam from Kris Bryant. Arrieta had two singles and a walk as the Cubs pulled away. Manager Joe Maddon let Arrieta keep pitching, though, telling reporters after the game, “You never want to interfere with somebody’s greatness”.
“I was a little off with my command”, Arrieta told reporters.
After that, he dug in and made quick work of the Reds’ lineup.
The thousands of Cubs fans in the crowd of 16,497 were on their feet cheering as Arrieta walked Scott Schebler to open the ninth, got pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart on a popup, Zack Cozart on a fly to center and Suarez on an easy fly.
He and David Ross his catcher embraced between the pitcher’s mound and home play as the remainder of the team circled them.
The similarities between Arrieta’s no-hitter from Thursday night (a 16-0 win for the Cubbies) and Bosio’s no-hitter are eerie.
The Cubs are off to a red-hot start this season, improving to an MLB-best 12-4 on the young campaign.
Bryce Harper hit his eighth home run for Washington, boosting his majors-leading RBIs total to 22. His first came on August 30, 2015 against the Dodgers, 2-0. He finished the game 2-for-2, scored once, walked twice and two RBI.
Edinson Volquez threw seven scoreless innings and Mike Moustakas homered as Kansas City blanked Detroit.
It also was a special night for Ross, who went two-for-three with a homer and a walk while picking a runner off first base for an out.
In the American League, the battle at the top of the AL West continued as the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 7-4 for a fourth straight win while the Oakland Athletics completed a sweep of the New York Yankees with a 7-3 victory – their fifth in a row.
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CLEVELAND – Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning off Cody Allen, lifting Seattle. The 24-year-old gave up two solo homers and three runs over 5 2/3 innings of his 2016 debut, not factoring in the outcome of a 4-3 loss Sunday at St. Louis. Considering how good Arrieta looked, those three players should feel fortunate that they got on base at all.
