Arrieta overpowers Dodgers in no-hitter

Jake Arrieta pitched the sixth no-hitter in the majors this season and second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 10 days, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory.

Arrieta (17-6) struck out a season-high 12 and became the first 17-game winner in the big leagues by throwing baseball’s third no-hitter in less than three weeks.

Astros right-hander Mike Fiers blanked the NL West-leading Dodgers 3-0 on Aug. 21. Never before had Los Angeles been no-hit twice in one season.

Arrieta got the benefit of a close call for the official scorer in the third inning, when Kike Hernandez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Starlin Castro.

he play was ruled an error but probably could have gone either way. “I thought it was a hit,” Arrieta said. “Tough play. Hernandez hit it well. Tough short hop for Castro. They scored it an error, thankfully so, and I was able to finish it off.”

Carl Crawford nearly broke up the no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh, but Castro caught Crawford’s line drive up the middle with a running grab. “Lights-out defense,” Arrieta said.

With his 116th pitch, Arrieta fanned Chase Utley on a breaking ball to end it. The 29-year-old pitcher was mobbed by teammates near the mound. “I think it will be more special the longer it sets in,” Arrieta said.