Baseball

Jake Arrieta knocked on the door of a no-hitter several times last season, but the Chicago Cubs finished strong on Sunday night. He got the first no-hitter of his career and his Major League-leading 17^th victory in a 2-0 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arrieta struck out 12 and finished August with a 6-0 record. He allowed only two baserunners, one on an error and one on a walk.

“It’s something everybody wants,” Arrieta said of his no-hitter. “Every kid thinks about it. Little League, high school, college, Minor Leagues, you think about it. It’s almost impossible not to. I’ve been close on a couple occasions. Everything aligned right tonight and I was able to get it done.”

The Dodgers suffered a no-hit defeat for the second time in nine days. Their only good news was that long-time announcer Vince Scully, 87, will return next year for his 67^th and most likely last season as their play-by-play voice.

Also: Flags flew at half-staff at Turner Field in Atlanta on Sunday, one day after 63-year-old Gregory Murrey fell to his death from the upper-level stands during Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees. Police do not suspect foul play. … Japan rallied from an eight-run deficit to defeat Lewisberry, Pa., 18-11 in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

HORSE RACING

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah faded in the stretch at the Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Saturday and finished second to Keen Ice. Pharaoh went off at 1-5 odds while longshot Keen Ice was 16-1. Pharoah’s owner, Ahmed Zayat, is seriously weighing retiring his brilliant colt.

ELSEWHERE

Jason Day, the world’s No. 3 player, won the Barclays by six strokes in Edison, N.J. He had recently won the PGA Championship as well. … The U.S. Open tennis championship begins its two-week run in Flushing, N.Y., on Monday. Serena Williams is pursuing a rare Grand Slam. … NFL teams are cutting their rosters from 90 to 75 players with the final preseason games this week. Thereafter rosters must be trimmed to 53. … Al Arbour, who coached the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s, died Saturday at 82 in Sarasota, Florida. Arbour had played on three Cup winners during his 14 years in the NHL. His 782 career victories as a coach rank second all-time to Scotty Bowman.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .