Levine: Cubs' Jake Arrieta On Cruise Control In Season Opener

By Bruce Levine--

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CBS) -- It was business as usual for ace right-hander Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs on Monday evening in a season-opening 9-0 win against the Angels. The reigning National League Cy Young winner, Arrieta cruised through seven shutout innings at Angel Stadium, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out six in an 89-pitch effort.

After nursing a blister on his right thumb 10 days ago, Arrieta was on top of his game, throwing fastballs early and toying hitters with his nasty breaking stuff and two-seamers later.

"It always starts with the starting pitcher," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Jake was right on top of his game. He just kept getting better. He was cruising (up) 6-0), but it was time to get him out of the game. That way hopefully he will have more bullets left at the end of the season."

Striking out Angels star Mike Trout twice was the benchmark for Arrieta, who was at his nastiest in fanning Trout and Albert Pujols inthe seventh inning.

"When I started, I was up in the zone a little bit," Arrieta said as he moved to 37-13 in his Cubs career. "I settled in nice as I got some good tempo going. I was able to make it go downhill. I made it go away from right-handed hitters and into both types of hitters. Trying to remain unpredictable was the goal. They have a good lineup and can really swing the bats."

Arrieta received plenty of run support, getting all he needed on Anthony Rizzo's RBI single in the first inning. Catcher Miguel Montero hit a two-run homer in the sixth to take the wind of of Los Angeles for good.

"It was great for us watching Jake do his thing as always," Rizzo said. "Really happy to see him come out and get settled in, having the game he did. We kind of expect it of him. We know he expects it of himself as well. To get those runs early for him was huge for us. That lets everyone relax and lets him relax. That will be a key for us, to let all of our pitchers settle into games."

Projected by Las Vegas as the favorite to win the World Series, the Cubs had a workman-like night offensively wearing down Angels right-hander Garrett Richards, who left after allowing three runs, all earned, in five innings and 97 pitches.

"The way we grind at-bats like today is the winning formula," Rizzo said. "I know we scored a lot of runs, but when you see pitches like we see pitches and grind at-bats, it's a sign good things are coming."

Dexter Fowler set the tone by getting on base four times and scoring three runs. Maddon often tells Fowler, "You go, we go," and that was the case in the season opener.

"We got to wear them down," Fowler said of his role in getting on base and seeing pitches. "That was a good pitcher out there. We had to get some pitches to hit. We wanted to hit our pitches, not his."

The fun between Maddon and Fowler is evident before each at-bat.

"He says that every time -- "You go, we go," Fowler said.  "Every AB, he says it. We have a great mix of veteran guys and young guys. It's fun seeing everyone doing it."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.