CHICAGO -- New season, same dominant Jake Arrieta at Wrigley Field.
The right-hander allowed just five hits in eight shutout innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday in his first home start of the season.
Arrieta (3-0) has been outstanding everywhere, but he’s been particularly brilliant at Wrigley. With the eight scoreless innings on Saturday, he has not allowed a run in his past 48 2/3 innings at the ballpark. The streak is the longest by any pitcher since Wrigley opened in 1914.
The last time Arrieta surrendered a run at home was the third inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 25, 2015. That is also the last time he has lost a start at home -- and it took a no-hitter by Cole Hamels to beat him that day.
Arrieta, the reigning Cy Young Award winner in the National League, also extended his franchise record with his 23rd consecutive quality start (three runs or fewer and at least six innings pitched), a streak that dates back to June 21, 2015. He is now 19-1 with a 0.91 in those 23 starts.
Arrieta had all four of his pitches working against the Rockies. He struck out the side in the first inning to immediately establish command of the game. He threw 100 pitches in the game, 68 for strikes. He finished with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Colorado finally was able to score after Arrieta left with a 6-0 lead. Carlos Gonzalez stroked a two-run homer off Travis Wood with one out in the top of the ninth.
Offensively, the Cubs slugged three home runs -- a three-run shot by Dexter Fowler and solo shots by Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler -- to provide Arrieta with all the support he needed.