Buc Bats Silent In 3-0 Loss to Cubs - JHK Back, Luplow & Arch Done for the Year

The Bucs opened with a Pablo infield knock and Starling walk. Cervy also walked an out later. Joey O whiffed and J-Hay grounded out. Despite the walks, ump Jim Wolf was giving Jon Lester a very wide strike that affected a couple of the at bats, particularly Joey O's. Ben Zobrist doubled with an out and Willy left him at second. Red Beard led of the second with a double and was stranded at third. The Cubs singled to start when Marte and Osuna let a fly drop between them, prob a miscommunication. Ian Happ followed with a slapper to center. After fanning a pair, a wild pitch moved the duo into scoring position. David Botes triple to left sent them both home, as the missed fly cost. J-Bell walked with one gone in the third and stole second as Cervy fanned on a 3-2 pitch. He joined the 0-for-7 RISP list. Willy dodged a bullet when Starling ran down Anthony Rizzo's laser, then issued a two-out walk, costing him just three more tosses. With two gone in the fourth, Jordy legged out an infield knock and Willy worked an 11-pitch walk before Pablo was rung up on an iffy call.

Willy struggled some tonight but had a great campaign (photo Pgh Pirates)

Happ walked to begin the Cubby half, but was caught stealing. Good thing, too, as Willson Contreras doubled. Lester followed with a knock, but Contreras was nailed at home by Reyes. A walk was next as Willy is laboring, and a single sent Lester home before it ended. It was a 1-2-3 fifth for the Pirates. Javy Baez doubled with an out but continued the Keystone Cubs routine on the bases by getting caught between bases on a comebacker, and a K finished the frame. There was no Bucco noise in the sixth. Dovy Neverauskas took over and stranded a double. Steve Cishek answered the seventh inning call and made it 10 straight Buccos retired. Clayton Holmes trotted out and worked a clean frame. Carl Edwards Jr. was beckoned for the eighth, and a walk & boot gave the Bucs a pulse; Cervy's 6-4-3 DP pulled the plug before Joey O flew out. Clay allowed a harmless knock. Jesse Chavez worked the ninth. Jordy had a two-out knock before the gate was shut.

Four hits won't win ya many ball games and so far, the audition period hasn't turned up any near-term help (maybe Pablo as an S-Rod type). Hopefully the Reds sad sack staff will help the Bucco bats warm up in the final set of the year. Of course, Wolf didn't help; he gave the Cubs a different zone than the Bucs tonight, and we suppose that's to be expected when you're in a playoff-bound club's rockin' house when you're an also-ran. That happens in every sport; kinda sucks when you're the underdog.

Jordy had a pair of raps (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• Jordy had two of the Bucs four hits.
• The Cubs won the series 10 games to nine (same as last year). Five of their wins were by shutout.
• Trevor finished the year with a 14-10/3.11 slash in 31 starts covering 170-2/3 IP. Pretty good stuff.
• Jung Ho Kang will join the Pirates tomorrow in Cincinnati. Don't expect a whole lot; he's got five Instructional League games under his belt since late June.
• Jordan Luplow had an appendectomy this morning, ending his season. He'll miss 2-4 weeks.
• Arch won't work the season finale at Cincy; he has a slight groin pull that's he worked through since mid-season and the Bucs decided to shut him down. No replacement has been named yet, and Clint said it may end up a bullpen game.