The Cubs Are Coming

We’ll spare you all the pain and suffering endured by the Chicago Cubs and their fans over the last century or so. We won’t recount the futility, the disappointment, the losses piled upon losses.

The future won’t erase the past, but it sure looks bright for the Cubs, and two of the main reasons were on display on Tuesday night.

The Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 and the list of good things is impressive.

First, Jake Arrieta became the first pitcher to reach 20 games in the majors this season, giving up only three hits and striking out 11 in his fourth complete game. Arrieta is 20-6, with an ERA of 1.88. He retired 14 straight batters en route to becoming the club’s first 20-game winner since Jon Lieber in 2001.

Second, Kris Bryant took over the MLB lead for home runs by a rookie with his 26^th, which also broke Billy Williams’ rookie club record set in 1961.

The Cubs, absent from the postseason since 2008 and without a postseason victory since 2003, are now 1 ½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in the chase for a wild-card berth.

Yes, the Cubs. A work in progress … since 1908, when they last won the World Series. Yes, the Cubs.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .