Bucs Spoil Cubbies Home Opener 8-5

Tyler Chatwood had no problems in the first; Ivan Nova had one of those innings. He gave up a pair of infield hits, and then with two gone, Kyle Schwarber rolled a 3-2 pitch with the runners on the move into left against the shift to make it 1-0, with Corey D sparing any extra damage by throwing out the middle runner at third (tho it took a challenge to get the call). The Bucs staged a two-out rally of their own in the second. With Dickerson on first, Amore got an infield knock not played very well by Javy Baez and Jordy banged a two-strike single to knot the score. Ivan tried to help himself, but his liner to center was right to Ian Happ. Baez made up for his gaffe with a two-out homer on a grooved heater; that third out has proved hard to come by today. A J-Hay knock and Starling walk put the Bucs in business in the third. They cashed in on back-to-back two baggers by J-Bell and Corey D to take a 4-2 lead. The Pirates left the bases jammed when Nova K'ed; fate has set him up to strand five runners already. But his job is to pitch and he put up a zero.

Ivan went seven solid today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

That ol' two-out magic struck again when Starling drilled a meatball 418' over the left field fence in the fourth. The Cubs opened with a double, but Nova shut down the following trio, helped by a nice grab by Marte. The Pirates went quietly in the fifth; Chatwood is at 101 pitches and been hot and cold, giving up five runs while fanning seven. Chicago legged another another soft single to no further avail. Mike Montgomery took over in the sixth and he and Ivan traded clean frames. The Bucs broke it open in the seventh by again flashing two-out voodoo. J-Bell and Corey D singled and Cervy, who's been testing the fences in April but had yet to clear one, finally drove a ball into the seats (it was a bomb at 428') to make it 8-2. Baez banged another long ball (note to Nova - the high fastball should not be an option to Javy anymore) before Ivan finished out the inning and his outing after 102 pitches. He gave up three runs on seven hits with six K.

Eddie Butler sat down the Pirates in the eighth and Edgar Santana took over for the Bucs. He gave up consecutive two-out singles to Wilson Contreras (he has three hits today) and Schwarber, who again went opposite the shift, then walked the bases full. That brought in Felipe Vazquez, formerly Rivero, to face lefty Jason Heyward, who rolled an 0-2 fastball up the middle to chase home a pair. A whiff ended the action, but at 8-5, the game is still on. Brian Duensing tossed a clean ninth; ditto for Vazquez to RTJR.

Nice win; Nova was sharp today except for trying to sneak heaters past Baez. But geez, that bullpen. Nevertheless, a deep lineup produced runs in bunches again and there ain't nothing like an occasional three-run homer to perk up the day. And hey, a four-out finish for Vazquez; Clint was going all out. And give both clubs credit; they made that third out a precious commodity today.

And a strong jump out of the gate for Corey D (image Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• Cervy and Corey D led the hit parade with three knocks each; J-Bell had a pair. Dickerson, btw, has the MLB in outfield assists with three going into tonight.
• The Pirates are 8-2, their best start after 10 games since 1992.
• Altoona OF Bryan Reynolds was placed on the 7-day DL with a wrist sprain. Jason Martin came of the DL to take his place. They were acquired as pieces of the Cole/Cutch deals.