Jake Arrieta pitched a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night, throwing 12 strikeouts in 116 pitches and walking just one batter in nine innings. The 2-0 win improved the Chicago Cubs to 74-55 on the season, and gives Arrieta a 17-6 record.
Arrieta has emerged as a legitimate Cy Young candidate this season. Heading into Sunday night's game, he had a 2.22 ERA and was eighth in Major League Baseball with 178 strikeouts.
Arrieta had taken a no-hitter past the seventh inning three times in his career prior to Sunday, but those bids fell short.
Arrieta's no-hitter is the sixth in MLB this season, the last coming just nine days ago when Mike Fiers also no-hit the Dodgers. Hisashi Iwakuma, Cole Hamels, Max Scherzer and Chris Heston are the other pitchers to accomplish the feat. Arrieta is the first Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Carlos Zambrano in 2008.
Arrieta sealed the feat by striking out Chase Utley.
#JakeArrieta no hitter!!! #Cubs #WeAreGood @BleacherNation @SarahSpain pic.twitter.com/sVLiaCM5kb
— Ben Hutchison (@BennyHutch) August 31, 2015
Surprisingly, the nine-day gap between no-hitters against one team is not an MLB record. It does appear to be a National League record, however.
The Cubs celebrated by giving Arrieta a well-deserved ice bath during a post-game interview.