Jake Arrieta finally loses as Diamondbacks topple Cubs ace, 3-2

Jake Arrieta finally lost a game on Sunday, unable to stretch his unbeaten streak to a full year as the Arizona Diamondbacks nicked him for three runs and held on for a 3-2 victory at Wrigley Field.

Arrieta, now 9-1 with a 1.80 ERA, had not lost since July 25, when Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter at Wrigley in his final start for the Phillies. After that, Arrieta produced 20 consecutive winning decisions, and the Cubs did not lose with him on the mound for 23 consecutive starts.

The latter streak was snapped on Tuesday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers scored five runs after Arrieta departed with seven scoreless innings to his credit.

"Obviously, Jake is a human. He's going to give it up sometimes," catcher Miguel Montero said after the game, per the AP.

Arrieta's 20 consecutive winning decisions entering Sunday put him in impressive company -  tied with Roger Clemens for third‐longest streak since 1913, trailing only Carl Hubbell (24 straight winning decisions from 1936-37) and Roy Face (22, 1958-59).

Those pitchers' marks are safe. The Diamondbacks struck for a pair of runs on Yasmany Tomas' second-inning double, and while Arrieta halved that deficit himself with an RBI double in the bottom half, a Paul Goldschmidt single put Arrieta in a 3-1 hole.

"Well, it was a good run," Arrieta said.

He ended up pitching five innings, striking out 12 but throwing 108 pitches.

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