Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Buc Bats Runnin' On Empty; Cubs Take Round Two 4-1

The Bucs stranded a J-Hay double off Jake Arrieta; the Cubs, even with a DP, left runners on second and third against Chad Kuhl. Both clubs wasted RISP in the second before the third devolved into a clean inning. A couple of Bucs walked in the fourth; a DP ended the frame. It stayed quiet until the sixth when Ben Zobrist took one deep to make it 1-0. Then it came unglued for Kuhl. A walk, a one-out double and an intentional walk juiced the sacks. A single scored one more and chased Cool Chad for AJ Schugel, who gave up a sac fly to make it 3-0. Koji Uehara served a meatball to JJ in the seventh and he sent it into the seats to make it 3-1. Huddy gave it back on a single/double duet in the eighth before Wade Davis sent everyone home.  Keep movin', folks - nothin' to see here.

JJ had it going tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)
Notes:
  • Per Bill Brink of the P-G and Rob Biertempfel of the Trib, the Pirates have put Juan Nicasio on irrevocable waivers, which means any team can claim him for just the cost of his contract (about $600K remaining). Our guess is that the Pirates were iffy when deciding on seller/buyer mode at the deadline and held on to him. Then they probably tried to get him through trade waivers but he was claimed to block him in the MLB's annual August chess match. That left them the option of keeping him (which would be our choice, but then again, not our money) or dumping the $600K he's owed. Wade LeBlanc, who we believe is still on the DL but eligible to come off now, was reported waived in a move that wasn't quite as controversial.
Juan gone per reports (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)
  • JJ had two hits and a walk; no other Bucco reached more than once as the offense continues to drift away.
  • The Altoona Curve won 3-1 today, clinching a playoff spot. Indy lost, but no diff; they clinched a spot, too.

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