Pitching Duel Devolves Into Bullpen Blowup; Starling's Heroics Not Enough In 4-3 Loss To Cubbies

Yu was a whirling Darvish in the first, spinning a 1-2-3 frame. Archie was on the mark, too, tossing a clean 11-pitch inning. The Pirates bats were still on break in the second; ditto Chi-town's as both pitchers have three K notched already. The Cubs have brought their leather today; Jason Heyward robbed Jake Stallings in an otherwise quiet third, and the inning before, Kyle Schwarber, of all people, made a nice grab of Melky's liner. Archer stayed strong, too. There was no noise in the fourth by Pittsburgh, while the Cubs did cause a little disturbance with a single and walk. Melky singled in the fifth and no one struck out, so there was that while Arch struck out the side. It's been a big boy's battle so far. Jake opened with a rap and Bryan Reynolds worked a two-out walk in the sixth, but Darvish retired Starling on a pop to short. The good news is that he's at 94 pitches; Archie tossed a clean frame and is at 79 tosses. Kyle Ryan took the bump for Chicago in the seventh. Redbeard hustled out a leg single with two away, bringing on Steve Cishek. It took eight pitches, but he finally fanned K-Man.

Archie was sharp today - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

One thing that has haunted Archie all year has been the long ball, and it finally got to him today when Kris Bryant took a 2-2 slider over the ivy. Worse, Bryant got second life when Melky in right couldn't run down a foul fly on the prior pitch. That was followed by a knock and an eight-pitch walk. Michael Feliz came on and gave up a single and sac fly (Melky made it close, but no cigar) and it was 2-0. Another single loaded the sacks and a walk brought in another run. After seven scoreless outings, Feliz picked an awkward time to blow up. Clint kept him in, and he got a 4-6-3 DP out of Schwarber, who fortunately was free-swinging. Pedro Strop climbed the hill in the eighth and with one away, Joey O banged a two-bagger. Reynolds walked with two gone and Starling knotted the score with a 454' NASA launch onto Waveland Avenue; the bullpens have put the pitching duel in the rear view mirror. Randy Rosario was waved in and shut it down. Kyle Crick took the ball. After a deep fly out, he gave up a walk. That was followed by a K and another walk. Of course it cost when Jason Heyward singled on the next pitch to boost the Cubs to a 4-3 edge. Craig Kimbrel looked to close it out. K-Man beat out an infield knock with two down to keep it alive briefly; the Cubs challenged the play and won; the review ended the match.

Wild Thing Was Today's Loser - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

Can't fault Clint for sending Arch out in the seventh, but he did keep him in a batter too long. And though Michael Feliz has been strong lately, Ric Rod, who usually gets the seventh-inning nod, especially with runners on, sat despite not being scored on for two months. Still, a promising game for the Bucs if Archie has figured it out (and for the Cubs if Yu has done the same). We'll see if there's any shuffling in the cards for the pen; the Bucs have to come back strong and at least split in the next two games.

Notes:

• The Bucs had five hits by five guys; they drew two walks, both to Bryan Reynolds. It'll be interesting to see if the offense has a regression during the dog days.
• Arch went over the 1,300 mark in strikeouts today. He fanned 10, his high mark as a Pirate.
• Kyle Crick has walked 27 batters in 31-1/3 IP and been scored on in three of his last four trips to the hill. You have to wonder how long he remains in high leverage situations, factoring in that he's given up just 22 hits and fanned 39. It shows other ways; he's gone without a walk just twice in his last 15 outings and hasn't thrown fewer than 20 pitches in 12 straight appearances.
• Toss another hat in the ring - Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan tweeted that sources tell him the Bucs are poking into Homer Bailey, who has overcome a miserable start with KC and has been tossing fairly solid ball since June.