Fact: One win does not a winning streak make … but you’ve got to start somewhere, right?

After losing four straight games, including being no-hit by the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers finally won one – a 6-2 win against Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta in front of a Dodger Stadium Friday Night Fireworks crowd of 49,387.

Ironically, prior to Thursday’s combined no-hitter, the last time the Dodgers were no-hit was on August 30, 2015, by (wait for it…) Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta.

Jake Arrieta did not throw a no-hitter against the Dodgers on Friday night. In fact, the former Cy Young award-winner gave up two runs on five hits that included a solo home run by Dodgers second baseman Zach McKinstry (his fourth) and doubles by third baseman Justin Turner and left fielder AJ Pollock. Pollock would also slug what would prove to be a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Cubs right-hander Ryan Tepera (a member of Thursday’s no-hitter foursome), followed shortly thereafter by a two-run shot by Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy off of Cubs right-hander Tommy Nance – his team-leading 15th of the season.

“I knew I hit it well, but I wasn’t sure if I got too under it,” Pollock said after the game. “It was nice seeing Joc [Pederson] run after it and not be able to catch it.”

“The hit by AJ, there was a big exhale in the dugout,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts added.

But every silver lining has a dark cloud in front of it. The National League West-leading San Francisco Giants also won on Friday to maintain their 4.5-game lead over the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, who also won on Friday. In fact, 22-year-old Padres superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. homered three times in their 11-5 pounding of the lowly NL West last-place Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park.

Whether of not Friday night’s win was indeed the beginning of a winning streak remains to be seen.

…but you’ve got to start somewhere, right?

Play Ball!

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