Brewers: Jake Arrieta, Cubs blank Crew
By Phil Watson
The Milwaukee Brewers ran into the buzz saw known as Jake Arrieta Tuesday night at Wrigley Field and were shut out for the 15th time this season, mustering just three hits in a 4-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Arrieta (20-6) became the first Cubs pitcher since Jon Lieber in 2001 to win 20 games in a season and dropped his ERA to 1.88, leaving him on pace to become the first Cubs starter in nearly a century (Pete Alexander in 1920) to post an ERA of less than 2.00.
ALSO ON DAIRYLAND EXPRESS: Milwaukee’s Best: The Best Of Braves, Brewers
His ERA since the All-Star break is now a ridiculous 0.86—which would be the lowest in baseball since the All-Star Game began in 1933.
So, yeah, he’s been pretty good.
More from Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers are making a bold bet with Jackson Chourio
- 5 Pitchers Milwaukee Brewers Should Trade For
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the New York Mets could make for Corbin Burnes
- This former player will eventually manage the Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the Baltimore Orioles could offer for Corbin Burnes
The Brewers (63-88) have lost 10 of 11 and remained a half-game behind the Cincinnati Reds in last place in the National League Central. The Cubs (89-62) kept pace with the Pittsburgh Pirates, two games out of the first wild-card spot and remained 9½ games in front of the San Francisco Giants for the second wild-card position.
Rookie right-hander Tyler Cravy (0-8) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in four innings, pressed into service when right-hander Jimmy Nelson was shut down for the season after being hit in the head by a line drive on Thursday.
Kyle Lohse allowed a run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts in three innings and Corey Knebel surrendered a run on two hits while fanning two in an inning.
Arrieta, meanwhile, gave up a leadoff double to Scooter Gennett in the first inning before retiring the next 14 batters.
Milwaukee’s next baserunner didn’t come until the fifth when Hernan Perez reached with an infield single.
Khris Davis had the Brewers’ only other hit, an infield single in the seventh.
So … yeah, that would be one hit that actually left the infield. Arrieta walked one and struck out 11 in the gem, his third shutout of the season. He’s the first Cub with at least three whitewashes in a single season since Greg Maddux in 1992 and became the first pitcher this season to get to 20 victories.
“He’s got good stuff,” Davis told MLB.com. “You have to give him credit. He hit his spots and he’s got electric stuff—swing-and-miss stuff in the zone—so you just have to battle and hope you string them together.”
Kris Bryant broke the Cubs’ rookie record with his 26th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third off Cravy and is two RBI shy of becoming the first Cub rookie to drive in 100 runs. So, yay him, I suppose.
Kyle Schwarber drove in a run in the fifth with a popup double that shortstop Jean Segura—shifted over against the left-handed pull hitter—dropped in medium-deep right center.
Sep 22, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Logan Schafer (7) looks on as Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (9) and Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Domingo Santana (16) can
Bryant capped the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth off Knebel.
Yadiel Rivera made his major-league debut for the Brewers Tuesday night, entering the game as part of a double-switch in the fifth inning, replacing Perez at third base. He went 0-for-2 in his debut after being called up from Double-A Biloxi earlier in the day.
The 15 shutouts the Brewers have eaten this season are the most in a season since they were blanked 16 times in 2004. The club record of 20, set in 1972, appears to be safe … maybe. The Crew’s bats have been inconsistent, but five shutouts in 11 games seems unlikely.
Right-hander Zach Davies (1-2, 6.00 ERA) will try to prevent a sweep Wednesday at 7:05 p.m., taking on right-hander Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 4.22).
Live Feed
Reviewing the Brew
Davies will be facing Chicago for the first time in his fifth big-league start. He took the loss Friday against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in six innings of a 5-3 loss.
Hendricks has pretty much owned Milwaukee in his first two seasons, going 3-0 with a 1.07 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in four starts and 25.1 innings with 14 strikeouts.
He is 1-0 in two starts this season, allowing one run on nine hits in 12.1 innings, striking out nine.
The Brewers continue their final road trip of the season in St. Louis Thursday through Sunday before going to San Diego for three games Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
They close the season at home against the Cubs Oct. 2-4.
Next: 6 Promoted From Biloxi To Fill Injury Gaps