COULD IT HAPPEN this year?
Jake Arrieta struck out 11 in a four-hit shutout as the Chicago Cubs advanced to the NL Division series by beating Pittsburgh 4-0 in a winner-take-all wild-card contest Wednesday.
The Cubs have now won 14 straight Major League Baseball games started by Arrieta, who also tied Kerry Woods’ franchise record for most strikeouts in a playoff game.
“It was one game do-or-die and one of us had to go and that’s how it ended,” Arrieta said. “It was a tremendous night.”
Chicago advances to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the postseason which begins Friday in St. Louis.
The Cubs have won nine straight games, including the regular season, and allowed just nine runs in that span.
Championship starved Cubs fans are hoping this young team will finally bring them a winner as it has been 107 years since their last championship.
“It has been a while. It is tremendous for the city. We will carry this momentum into St. Louis,” Arrieta said.