GDT NLWC-Cubs (Arrieta) @ Pirates (Cole) 7:08 CDT

[Jocephus]

gatorade should try and use it as promotion. nothings tougher than gatorade!

[dmarx114]

I agree that Arrieta was hittable from the 6th inning on, but by the time Arrieta looked human the score was 4-0. Arrieta poured in first pitch strike after first pitch strike for the first 5 innings, while Cole struggled some and found himself in bad counts. First inning he starts the first 3 hitters off with a ball, got into bad counts, and the Cubs turned it into a run. In the third he gets ahead of Fowler 0-1 but then goes to 2-1 before Fowler singles. Then he gets behind AGAIN 2-0 to Schwarber .. and then it's 3-0. He has Fowler 0-2 and can't put him away ... boom. 4-0.

No luck involved. Arrieta simply outpitching Cole by a landslide.

I agree that from the 6th Arrieta was anything but the guy in the first 5 innings, and the Cubs were fortunately to not give anything up. But you have to give the Cubs credit, they outplayed the Pirates because their guy pitched better, and their hitters took advantage.

Was strange to see Arrieta get knocked around in the 6th and 7th. In the 8th and 9th, he was back to his dominant form. Not sure what happened in the 6th and 7th.

[ZigZagCardsFan]

ben leggieri ‏@benlegg84
Why does @JArrieta34 touch his damn hat and jersey so much? #mustbecheating #bitterbucsfan #MLB

Jake Arrieta @JArrieta34
My right nipple comes out of my tank top almost every pitch, so I place it back inside.

[TheTimeIsNow]

Last year the Pirates had to face Bumgarner in the midst of a historic run, this year they faced Arrieta in the midst of a historic run... so, who is next year? Kershaw? Greinke? Scherzer?

[ZigZagCardsFan]

Last year the Pirates had to face Bumgarner in the midst of a historic run, this year they faced Arrieta in the midst of a historic run... so, who is next year? Kershaw? Greinke? Scherzer?

Tim Cooney

[pioneer98]

[pioneer98]

[Radbird]

Last year the Pirates had to face Bumgarner in the midst of a historic run, this year they faced Arrieta in the midst of a historic run... so, who is next year? Kershaw? Greinke? Scherzer?

Tim Cooney

Right - it'll be someone previously obscure.

[Jocephus]

Pirates Water Cooler ‏@piratescooler 11h11 hours ago

.@FloydMayweather @RondaRousey who's next?

[pioneer98]

I agree that Arrieta was hittable from the 6th inning on, but by the time Arrieta looked human the score was 4-0. Arrieta poured in first pitch strike after first pitch strike for the first 5 innings, while Cole struggled some and found himself in bad counts. First inning he starts the first 3 hitters off with a ball, got into bad counts, and the Cubs turned it into a run. In the third he gets ahead of Fowler 0-1 but then goes to 2-1 before Fowler singles. Then he gets behind AGAIN 2-0 to Schwarber .. and then it's 3-0. He has Fowler 0-2 and can't put him away ... boom. 4-0.

No luck involved. Arrieta simply outpitching Cole by a landslide.

I agree that from the 6th Arrieta was anything but the guy in the first 5 innings, and the Cubs were fortunately to not give anything up. But you have to give the Cubs credit, they outplayed the Pirates because their guy pitched better, and their hitters took advantage.

The luck involved was in that 6th and 7th inning the Pirates crushed 6 balls, and had 3 singles, a linout and 2 double plays to show for it. Credit the Cubs for making the plays but it's luck that 3 of those >100MPH balls were hit right at fielders. Those 6 could have easily been like 1 lineout, 3 singles and 2 doubles or worse. Mixed in with the walks and HBP's.