FITP Baseball Update: A Champion is Crowned

The Cubs held on to win at home last weekend, allowing them to return to Cleveland for a chance at two more games and a World Series title. After traveling on Monday, a familiar name appeared on the roster at Pitcher. Tuesday night, Jake Arrieta took the mound for the last time this season. The Cubs got off to a great start before Arrieta stepped foot onto the field, with a home run and a 2-run double in the top of the 1st.

Arrieta didn’t allow his first hit until the 4th inning, when Jason Kipnis doubled to deep center field. Mike Napoli brought Kipnis home on a single, making the score 7-1 Cubs at that point. Kipnis came back and homered in the bottom of the 5th, making it 7-2. Two outs into the bottom of the 6th, Arrieta was done for the night. The Cubs went on to win the game 9-3 and advance to Game 7 of the World Series. Arrieta tallied 2 runs on 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings, including that Kipnis home run. He threw a total of 102 pitches, struck out 9 and walked 3. That’s a total of just 3 runs in 11-plus innings pitched in the World Series, with 15 total strikeouts.

On November 2, Arrieta could be seen in the bullpen throughout the game. He even appeared to be warming up at one point, as the Cubs went through pitchers like parents going through their kids’ Halloween candy (or was that just me?). While Arrieta was a tempting option for the Cubs in a game fraught with drama and errors on both sides, he remained a bystander and could only watch from afar. There was a brief rain delay after a full 9 innings of baseball, with the two teams tied 6-6. About 17 minutes later, Ben Zobrist would double to left field, bringing Albert Almora Jr. home to make it 7-6 Cubs. Then Miguel Montero singled to left, allowing Anthony Rizzo to score. That made it 8-6 Cubs. The Indians got up to bat and Rajai Davis singled to center field, bringing Brandon Guyer in for run #7 for Cleveland. Cubs’ Manager Joe Maddon replaced Pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. with Mike Montgomery. Montgomery’s fist pitch was a strike to Michael Martinez. Martinez hit a ground ball to Kris Bryant, who threw to Anthony Rizzo at first base for the final out.

And it was done! The Cubs are Champions after 108 years.

They never could’ve done it without Jake Arrieta. It’s time to say goodbye to baseball in 2016, but we’re already looking forward to next year. In the meantime, it looks like our buddy Jake is ready for breakfast and a long break.

Congratulations, Jake, from the Frogs O’ War Staff!