A.L. Wild Card

Arrieta Too Much For Pirates

Crippy Baseball , , , , ,

Jake Arrieta and the Cubs were too much for the Pirates tonight. Arrieta pitched a complete game shutout catapulting the North Siders into the division series against their arch-rivals, St. Louis Cardinals. (I guess as close to an arch-rival as you can have when you haven’t won in 106 years.)

After winning the N.L. Wild Card Game in 2013, the Pirates lost the game for the second straight year and for the second straight year they didn’t score a run. Last year they fell 8-0 to the Giants and this year 4-0 to the Cubs.

Going into the game defense was perhaps an advantage for the Pirates but the Cubbies flashed their share of leather tonight.  They were able to turn two double plays in the sixth and seventh to snuff out any thought of a Pittsburgh rally.

On to The Lou for the Cubs.

Kansas City Here Come The Astros

Crippy Baseball ,

The Astros got six shutout innings out of staff ace and Cy Young candidate, Dallas Keuchel, and enough offense last night to move on to the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals.

I wasn’t sure about this game.  The Yankees were at home and despite Keuchel’s fantastic season his numbers on the road weren’t stellar and he was pitching on three days rest.  However, he dominated the Yankees all year and last night was no different.