Bucs Take Series In A Home Run or No Count Contest 6-1

Well, good enough start; Gregory pounded a long ball of Kyle Hendricks while Trevor Williams opened with a knock and a walk (on what looked like strike three; if Trevor got that call, it would have been a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP) but escaped unmarred. Cervy tripled with a out in the second, but Red Beard whiffed, Jordy was waved to first and Williams couldn't help himself, or for that matter, even hit the ball. But he did toss a 1-2-3 inning afterward. The Bucs left more runners on ice in the third when Fraze singled and was doubled to third with two outs by J-Bell. Corey D was walked, but Cervy bounced out to leave more ducks honking on the pond. The Cubs got a one-out double from Ian Happ but Williams fanned the other three Bruin batters. The Bucs went quietly in the fourth before Kyle Schwarber tied it with a leadoff long ball, a blast that carried into the stands even with the wind blowing in. Fraze got it back in the fifth, leading off with his first dinger of the campaign while Williams sat down the Cubs. Pittsburgh used an error and walk to put a pair aboard with an out in the sixth but left 'em stranded. The Cubs did ditto; allowing a two-out, two-bagger to die at second.

Trevor did his thing (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

 Ol' Bucco Justin Wilson took the hill in the seventh and Gregory smacked his second tater of the day to left center. Back-to-back walks with two outs gave Cervy a chance to open some space and he did big-time, taking a 2-1 down-the-middle, above-the-knees heater over the fence to make it 6-1. The Bucs got a knock and walk to follow, bringing in Steve Cishek to finish the frame. Trevor went six, allowing a run on four hits with a walk & five whiffs after 94 tosses, and Michael Feliz toed the slab. He put up a zippo. Cishek's curve kept the Bucs at bay in the eighth. George Kontos bopped Kris Bryant with one gone, and an out later, Schwarber singled against the shift; the Baby Bears have had success this series in going the opposite way. But it didn't ignite, so onto the ninth and Carl Edwards. Corey D doubled with one away and Colin Moran walked an out later, followed by a short wild pitch but no further scoreboard flipping. Clint brought Felipe Vazquez in; we have no idea why with a five-run lead why Edgar Santana didn't get the ball. He gave up a single, but a liner to second (S-Rod was there as a well-timed D sub) was snagged on a dive and doubled up that runner. A pop ended it, and Felipe thankfully only used eight pitches. RTJR!

And Cervy flexed some muscles (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Well, the series proved two things - the Bucs are tough when the middle bullpen gets to siesta and it's nice to play the Cubs with Anthony Rizzo on ice. The hitters kept showing up, and Ivan & Trevor did nice work this series. Off to Miami to reel in some Fish.

Notes:

• Today was Gregory's third career multi-homer game. The second blast, off Justin Wilson, was his first homer off a lefty since 2016, which was also the season he had his other two multi-dinger games. He has five home runs this season, and didn't hit his fifth long ball until June 22nd last season (Pirates' 73rd game) per @ESPNStatsInfo.
• Fraze, Gregory and Fran each had two hits. Corey Dickerson extended his hitting streak to seven games while Colin Moran's string reached five games.
• Chicago weather is just like Pittsburgh's - unpredictable. The wind shifted and the temperature dropped 20 degrees during the game.