MLB PLAYER NEWS

Cubs RHP Arrieta not concerned with early struggles

The Sports Xchange

March 19, 2015 at 9:00 pm.

Jake Arrieta isn't too concerned about his spring troubles. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Chicago right-hander Jake Arrieta struggled but the Cubs offense showed plenty of life with a 13-hit attack in a midweek victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But Arrieta, who had carried a 1-1 record and a 1.50 ERA into the game, said he wasn’t worried despite allowing five runs in four innings in Wednesday’s 7-5 victory.

“Just got into a couple situations there, a couple of bats where I got behind in the count and served something up that were a little too hittable,” said Arrieta, who allowed seven hits while walking two and striking out four in four innings. “They were able to get the ball in the air and strung some hits together but after that point in the second … it kind of rolled forward.”

Four relievers then combined for five scoreless innings.

Arrieta, who went 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 appearances in 2014, is projected as part of the Cubs’ starting rotation. His 10 wins matched a career high (2011 with the Orioles) while he struck out 167 and walked 41.

After just one victory in their first 10 spring training games, the Cubs had won six of their last seven entering Thursday’s meeting with the Diamondbacks and the first night game of the spring. Cubs pitchers walked two or fewer in five of the seven games.

Cubs pitchers collectively struck out 132 batters before Thursday, third most this spring behind the Yankees (149) and A’s (140). They’ve walked 15 and struck out 57 in that span.