In the seventh, reliever Tony Watson hit Arrieta with a pitch. Arrieta knew he was going to get hit after nailing two Pirates hitters, but he exchanged words before the benches and bullpens formed a scrum near home plate.
Sean Rodriguez, who was lifted for a pinch hitter in the third, was one of the first Pirates players to leave the dugout and was ejected.
“Sometimes those things happen,” Arrieta said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for those guys.”
Arrieta had a quick reply when a reporter suggested his stuff wasn’t as crisp as in recent starts.
“I’m not sure what game you’re watching.” said Arrieta, who had every intention of throwing a complete game and finished with 113 pitches.
“I didn’t want to see anyone in the bullpen. I wanted to finish what I started and be the guy to get the last out. That’s the mindset.”
Epstein was thrilled.
“Unbelievable,” he said. “A 4-0 lead is misleading. There’s a lot of drama in that game, a lot of tension, a lot of emotions. Jake had to find a second gear after all that drama.”
And fantasy has become a reality for rookies like Schwarber, who admitted he was nervous Tuesday while watching the American League wild-card game.
“Crazy to think,” said Schwarber, 23, the Cubs’ first pick in the 2014 draft. “But it’s crunch time, and we’re ready for it.”
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