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Jake Arrieta shutout rests bullpen for St. Louis Cardinals

By John Perrotto, The Sports Xchange
Jake Arrieta throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning of the National League Wild Card at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on October 7, 2015. Arrieta pitched a four hit shutout to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Pirates 4-0. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
1 of 3 | Jake Arrieta throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning of the National League Wild Card at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on October 7, 2015. Arrieta pitched a four hit shutout to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Pirates 4-0. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

PITTSBURGH -- Jake Arrieta did not just want to win his first postseason start.

He wanted a complete game. He wanted a shutout.

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The right-hander got both Wednesday night as he pitched a four-hitter while leading the Chicago Cubs to a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League wild-card game.

Now the Cubs will have a bullpen that is ready and rested when they open play against the Cardinals on Friday night at St. Louis in the best-of-five National League Division Series.

The Cubs have won nine games in a row, including the last eight in the regular season, and allowed just nine runs that span. Arrieta made sure the relievers would be ready for the Cardinals.

"I didn't want to see anybody in the bullpen," Arrieta said. "I wanted to finish what I started and be the guy to get the last out. That was the mindset."

The Cubs are very familiar with the Cardinals after finishing three games behind them in the NL Central standings in the regular season, going 97-65 while St. Louis went 100-62. Despite having the third-best record in the major leagues, the Cubs finished third in the division, as the Pirates were second with a 98-64 record.

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"It's a shame that the three of us have to meet so early in the playoffs," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said, "but there are positives to playing against teams in the division. We're used to playing in (St. Louis). We're used to the hotel, the gym we work out, the restaurants we go to for lunch. There is a comfort level with all that."

The Cubs went 8-11 against the Cardinals in the regular season, including losing seven of 10 at St. Louis.

Rizzo hit .323 (21-for-66) with five doubles and four home runs during the season series, while second baseman Starlin Castro batted .310 (22-for-71) with three doubles and three homers.

Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong hit .333 (16-for-48) with four doubles and a triple against the Cubs.

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