After the first four batters, Chad settled down but it was too late (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
With an out in the fourth, Red Beard doubled and went to third on a wild pitch but wasn't cashed in as Jordy rocketed an at 'em ball at Baez and Chad rolled out; Pittsburgh hasn't had much ball luck in the early going. Chicago got a two-out knock from Anthony Rizzo, his third hit, but Amore erased him trying to swipe second. AM singled with one gone in the fifth and a grounder moved him up, but he died at second. A one-out walk was followed by a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP as Cervy is putting up with none of it today. The Pirates were 1-2-3 in the sixth, with Happ making another nice grab. Chad remained on the hill after 100 twirls and gave up a leadoff knock off Moran's mitt followed by a bunt single. The Cubs then hit a ball hard that found Corey D's glove but put up a red flag. In came Edgar Santana, who fanned the next pair of Baby Bruins. Cory Mazzone took over in the seventh and Jordy greeted him with a two-bag gapper. A grounder moved him along but J-Hay bounced out to third, freezing Mercer. Lefty Randy Rosario came in to face AM and made him look bad with a four-pitch K. Dovydas Neverauskas was thrown into the fire and tossed a clean, two-K frame.
Don't run on Cervy (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates) |
Rosario stayed on; he's thrown two strikes total to AM last inning and Starling to open the eighth but struck them both out. Cervy squinted his eyes and drew a walk. Corey D flew out and righty Pedro Strop came in to face Freeser, who grounded out. Dovy cruised with a whiff, single and GIDP for another three up, three down inning. Red Beard opened with a rap and was wild-pitched to second. J-Hay ended the game, fittingly enough, being robbed of an RBI knock by Happ, and Moran became the last Bucco stranded in scoring position. The Pirates finished 0-for-13 w/RISP. Pittsburgh just can't get it together; when the pitching is OK, the hitting isn't and vice versa. Seems like a hamster wheel the club just can't hop off of lately.
Notes:
- Corey Dickerson extended his hitting streak to eight games. J-Hay, AM and Red Beard each had two knocks.
- Chad Kuhl tossed 111 pitches, his career high. He had thrown 108 against the Brewers earlier in the season.
- The Bucs are 31-32 and below .500 for the first time this season after dropping 15 of their last 20 games.
- Clint said Ivan Nova responded well after his bullpen and now they're working on setting up a schedule for his return to the rotation, although the timing is still TBD.
- The "discomfort" that sent Ric Rod to the DL was shoulder inflammation.
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