Jamo Hangs Tough, Middle of the Order Comes Up Big As Pirates Outlast Cubs 5-4

Jamo had a clean first; Jon Lester walked J-Low to start it off, then shut it down. A knock and a walk  around an out in the second caused a little sweat, but an around-the-horn DP restored order. The Bucs took a walk and Joey O doubled with an out, but the contact play got J-Hay tossed out at home (good call as the pitcher was on deck; Jordy didn't do his job). Three grounders, three outs for the Cubbies in the third. Gregory singled with two away and touched home following Freeser's two-bagger high off the Clemente Wall. He plated on Cervy's homer, a fly up the line that just snuggled inside the foul pole (the line is 325'; Statcast had his ball traveling 328'). The Cubs came right back in the fourth - a double that Gregory missed shoe-stringing and a flare to right put runners on the corners. JT hung an 0-2 curve and Javy Baez launched it off the Rotunda to tie the match. Two outs later, Chi-town banged out another double and only Jordy's snag of a liner by Lester kept it even. Jordy singled with an out; JT's not very good inning continued as he bunted into a DP.

Jamo took the game into the seventh again (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Chi-town drew a two-out walk in the fifth for all their damage. Gregory walked with two away and Freeser shipped him home with another opposite field double, digging out a 1-2 curve. Amore followed with a knock to left, but Freeser was cut down easily at home; with two outs, Joey Cora was pretty aggressive with the windmill. Baez opened the sixth with a ground rule double and Jamo left him there thanks to a couple of bullets that found mitts. Steve Cishek took over and tossed a clean frame. A leadoff Baby Bears single in the seventh was quickly mopped up by a 6-4-3 DP. Pinch hitter Anthony Rizzo caught a 1-2 fastball in the hand; the Pirates challenged, claiming the ball hit the bat first, and lost. Edgar Santana took over; Jamo wasn't sharp, but did a good job containing the Cubs except for the curve to Baez. The next Bruin walked, but a whiff shut it down. Old Bucco and new Cubbie Jesse Chavez 1-2-3'ed the Pirates. Kyle Crick took the ball in the eighth and with two gone walked Ian Happ, despite being ahead 0-2, before putting it to rest.

Justin Wilson toed the rubber and his first pitch was roped into the seats by Gregory to add an insurance run. Freeser's liner to center was run down and the page turned quietly afterward. Felipe Rivero climbed the slope and gave up a single under Freeser's mitt and an Addison Russell triple, ruh-roh. The Pirates asked for a review; it appeared Russell's hand came off the base and it did; he was rung up *whew*. Given a reprieve, Felipe cruised home with a whiff and bouncer; RTJR.

Ol' man Freeser has been key in the Bucco resurgence (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Pretty fun day. Spanked the Cubs with Dickerson & Bell on ice, and added a couple of stellar arms to not only prime the pump but to let the fans and team that the FO is on their side. Dunno where it will all lead, but ya gotta have the feels for this bunch right now.

Notes:

• Gregory had two hits, three runs scored and an RBI. Freeser had two doubles, two runs chased home and plated once. Cervy had two raps, two runs batted in and scored one time. Not a bad performance by the 3-4-5 hitters; the drove in and scored all five runs. The club had eight hits; the middle of the order had six of them.
• The Pirates have recalled utility man Chris Bostick from Indy, where he hit .297 with 25 doubles, four homers and 34 RBI in 81 games.
• There were 18,972 rooters in the yard tonight. As an added attraction, they got to see a couple of military helicopters buzz the park and town; there's a defense exercise going on this week.
• Chad Kuhl was switched from the 10 day DL to the 60 day DL, creating an open 40-man roster spot.
• Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs digs into the biggest move of the deadline, the Pirates-Rays deal.