Levine: Jake Arrieta Regains Dominant Form, But Cubs Lose

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Although the ending was difficult to stomach in a 2-1 loss to the Mets on Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field, the Cubs had an important positive takeaway.

Ace right-hander Jake Arrieta looked much more like himself, as his command was there from jump street and the mojo appeared back across seven strong innings of one-run ball. After taking a long rest during the All-Star break and beyond, a more in-the-moment Arrieta looked calm, cool, collected and in control all evening.

"I noticed the ratio of strikes to balls was pretty good," said Arrieta, who threw 63 of his 85 pitches for strikes across seven innings. "That is really when I am at my best, when I am challenging guys. I expect to pitch more like this, as far as aggressiveness and keeping the ball down in the strike zone with everything."

Keeping his pitch count down, Arrieta allowed one run on five hits across those seven innings. He also struck out eight while walking one and came away with his third no-decision of the season.

The Mets plated a run on a Curtis Granderson sacrifice fly in the sixth inning of Arrieta. After he left, New York scored the deciding second run in the ninth inning on a Rene Rivera RBI single off Chicago closer Hector Rondon.

While getting men on base against Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard, the Cubs offense couldn't come through, going 2-of-13 with runners in scoring position. That included squandering a bases-loaded, no-out chance in the bottom of the ninth.

"We played well, we pitched well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We just did not get a hit when we needed it. It was good to see Jake pound the strike zone. This was a great game for him to build off of."

Before Tuesday, Arrieta had struggled in his past three outings, allowing 15 earned runs across 16 1/3 innings. He's also gone just 3-4 since starting the year 9-0.

Against the Mets, Arrieta was in rhythm, throwing just two balls in the first three innings.

"That was a little more like it," Arrieta said. "I was really aggressive in the strike zone. I was using my off-speed (stuff) pretty well throughout the game. It was a tough game overall. Syndergaard was good. We had some opportunities, but he made some good pitches."

Arrieta was called out on an appeal by the Mets on a tag play at home plate in the fourth inning. After doubling, Arrieta had tried to score on a Tommy La Stella single to right field, but Michael Conforto's throw beat him on a close play, as Rivera tagged Arrieta on the hand just before he touched the plate.

"That was a perfect throw and Rivera made a really good play on the back side," Maddon said. "You are always close to bobbling or missing that ball. No, I was fine with (sending him)."

The Cubs fell were swept by the Mets in the NLCS last year and are now 1-5 against them this season. On Tuesday, Chicago was left to rue its missed chance in the ninth. After loading the bases, Matt Szczur grounded into a fielder's choice out at home plate and then Kris Bryant hit into a game-ending 5-4-3 double play against New York closer Jeurys Familia.

"We played well, we pitched well, we were in every moment of that game," Maddon said. "We had a chance but didn't get the hit."

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