CHICAGO – Jake Arrieta tossed six shutout innings to become this season’s first 11-game winner in the National League, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday at Wrigley Field.

Arrieta (11-1) is tied with Chris Sale of the White Sox for the major league lead in wins.

Francisco Liriano (4-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Matt Szczur had a two-run home run in the first inning, and rookie Albert Almora Jr. had three hits and two runs batted in for the Cubs. Chicago is now 41-3 this season when scoring at least four runs.

Arrieta allowed just two hits and struck out 11. He also struck out 11 against Pittsburgh on May 14 and has dominated the Pirates since joining the Cubs. In 12 career starts against the NL Central rivals, he is now 9-1 with a 1.46 ERA. He is 3-0 against Pittsburgh this season.

Arrieta cruised through the first five innings before running into a rare streak of wildness in the sixth. He walked the bases loaded with one out and then fell behind David Freese 3-0. Arrieta rallied to strike out Freese for the second out and then also struck out Matt Joyce for the final out after falling behind 3-1.

Cubs top prospect Wilson Contreras, who was called up earlier in the day, made his major league debut when he was inserted into the game at catcher in the ninth inning.