Arrieta’s legendary run may be just the beginning

SAN FRANCISCO — The great Jake Arrieta has now won his last 19 decisions and the Cubs have been victorious in his last 22 starts dating back to this past July 25. He has also pitched two no-hitters during that span.

He’s 8-0 with a 1.29 ERA this season after Friday night’s 8-1 drubbing of the Giants, and though Cubs manager Joe Maddon called his run of performances “legendary,” he said the best for the masterful right-hander is still to come.

“I’m telling you, there’s another level we haven’t seen yet this year,” Maddon said. “His numbers are good, his velocity is good, his spin on the breaking ball is good, changeup’s good. Everything is good. But his command has been off.

“Even in the [last] no-hitter, his command was off the first part of that game and he got it after about the fourth inning. Once he gets the feel where the ball’s going again, you will have better starts out of him. It’s just the truth.”

Perish the thought for Major League hitters, already batting only .153 against him.

In truth, Maddon knows from which he speaks. Arrieta was not particularly sharp Friday night, but once the Cubbies put up a five spot in the second inning and knocked out Jake Peavy, Arrieta really didn’t even have to break a sweat, ending San Francisco’s eight-game winning streak.

“This is another night when I came out with my B stuff,” Arrieta said. “I was able to sequence things pretty effectively. The cutter was really flat early in the ballgame. I was able to make some pretty big pitches. I had to adjust on the fly tonight to get better.”

Though he was behind in the count against many of the Giants’ hitters, he still allowed just a single run …

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