The MLB dominated the week in sports with spectacular plays, including a diving catch by Alex Gordon in which he ran 102 feet, and a 105 mph laser from Yankees’ outfielder Aaron Hicks to throw out Danny Valencia of the Oakland A’s at home plate.
But as sensational as they were, they don’t amount to what Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Jake Arrieta accomplished this week, as the star right-hander tossed the second no hitter of his career after hurling 119 pitches Thursday night to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 16-0.
Arrieta’s gem may not necessarily be the result of one individual play, but it’s truly remarkable that Arietta has now thrown two no hitters in under eight months. His first no-no occurred last August, stifling the powerful pats of the Los Angeles Dodgers en-route to a 2-0 victory at Dodger Stadium. Arrieta joins Homer Bailey and Tim Lincecum as the only current pitchers with two no hitters in the span of a year, and he now boasts a ridiculous ERA of 0.53 dating back to Aug. 1 of last year. His start to 2016 is all that the preseason World Series favorites could ask for.
What we saw from the North Side’s ace on Thursday night was another chapter of pure greatness. That said, it’s only appropriate that Arrieta’s spectacle earns him our Play of the Week award