Cubs Salvage Split With 8-2 Bucco Thumping

There was a 50+ minute delay to mop up after a couple of passing showers, and when they passed, brrr - the frost was on the ol' pumpkin. The Cubbies just pecked away at Jamo (prob to keep warm). In the first, a single, double and sac fly made it 1-0. In the second, a double, groundout and squeeze (which took two tries to succeed; the first attempt at a bunt rolled foul) made it 2-0. Hey...what if he quit giving up doubles...hmmmm. The Bucs tried to answer against Jon Lester, but a walk was erased by a DP and a Jordy double ended badly a batter later with a throw-out at home after JT singled. LF'er Ian Happ was basically playing deep shortstop on the hit and had no problems catching Mercer on a wing and a prayer send by Joey Cora. Stop us if you've heard this before...double, grounder, single and it was 3-0 in the third. The Bucs answered with a couple of walks followed by a couple of grounders to get that run back.

No magic for Jamo tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The fourth? Single, single, double and it was 4-1 Cubs. In the fifth, a single, double and double lit the board to the tune of 6-1 and brought on Angel Sanchez to close it out. JT gave up 11 hits, six of them two-baggers, in 4-2/3 innings and was upstairs way too often; it may be time to give his bod - and mind - a break. The sixth went quietly with four of the six batters whiffing. The Cubbies tacked on two more in the seventh after a walk and Albert Almore Jr homer; we we're wondering if Angel could get through an outing without a score. Justin Grimm worked a clean frame. Joaquin Benoit gave up a double in the eighth but no points. Pittsburgh plated again when J-Lup doubled home Cutch off old matey Justin Wilson. Dovydas Neverauskas served a zippo in the ninth, literally dodging the raindrops as the skies opened on him. Felix Pina got a drier if somewhat puddled field for Chi-town and shut the gate though did leave the bases loaded before collecting the third out.

It's frustrating to watch Jamo continue his second half woes; it's equally frustrating to watch the Pirates attack; eight hits and six walks were offset by stranding 11 runners tonight. Hopefully they'll find a couple of guys next season, whether already in the fold or on the outside looking in, who can run up some old timey counting numbers like RBI and extra-base hits.

Mad Max is getting the hang of this MLB thing (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• The only Bucco batter with two hits was Jamo. Mad Max had a rap and two walks, Cutch had a knock and a walk and S-Rod drew a pair of passes. 
• Chris Bostick got his first MLB hit tonight, a pinch-hit double banged off the Clemente Wall.
• The Pirates and Cubs concluded their season series tonight with Chicago holding a 10-to-9 edge.
• Travis Sawchik of Fangraphs discusses the disconnect between the Pirates and their fans.
• 19,201 tickets were sold for tonights game; not very many ducat-holders showed up in person.
• Altoona took the first game of their playoff series 2-0 against Bowie. Mitch Keller tossed a Maddux, throwing a 90-pitch, one-hit shutout. Indy wasn't as lucky dropping their second game to Durham 2-0. Tyler Glasnow pitched well (six IP, one run, two hits, two walks, nine K on 105 pitches) but even though Indy outhit the Bulls, 8-3, they bounced into three double plays and left eight runners on base.