Cubs Roll Over Bucs 8-2

The game started late due to an early passing sprinkle and started at 8:15 with an Ian Happ double off Joe Musgrove. Big Joe then took command and left him stranded. Kyle Hendricks gave up a rap to Kevin Newman for all the Bucco noise. Big Joe retired the Cubs in order in the second. Colin Moran drew first blood when he banged a 3-2 heater 450' to the Riverwalk, and one big bounce later, it got it wet. Gregory doubled and Jake walked with two outs, but were left aboard. Chicago went down quietly in the third. Fraze walked to open but was caught stealing (he's 1-of-4) and the next two outs were routine. In the fourth, a double and single ended Big Joe's night. Nick Tropeano came on and his first pitch was knocked over the wall by Javy Baez to give the Cubbies a 3-1 edge. With two outs, a double, walk and catcher's interference call juiced the sacks, but Nick wiggled out. Gregory and Anthony Alford singled with two away to no avail. Derek Holland got the wave for the fifth and spun a clean frame. Fraze legged out an infield knock for the Pirates attack.

Joe gave the Bucs three good innings  - image Pittsburgh Pirates

Dutch Oven gave up a walk in the sixth, then shut the door. Pittsburgh went down in order. The warts showed up in the seventh - a pair of singles left Cubbies at second and third with an out after Alford's throw went needlessly to third. Another rap through a drawn-in infield plated them, followed by a balk and boot by Redbeard, but Holland used a whiff and bouncer to leave them stranded. Ryan Tepera took the hill and Alford banged his third toss into the bullpen, followed by not much else. Derek stayed on the bump in the eighth, and a walk with one away bit him when with two outs, back-to-back knocks (one an overruled catch) plated another Baby Bruin. K-Man let a grounder through and two more runs crossed to make it 8-2. Duane Underwood Jr got the ball and gave up an excuse-me infield single to J-Bell, Holland served the team and pen well; he retired the Chi-time bunch in order and ate five innings, doing a better job than his line showed. Jason Adam finished it off cleanly.

Notes:

• Gregory and Anthony Alford each had two hits. KeBryan Hayes was welcomed into the league a day late, fanning three of his four at bats.
• Kevin Newman has committed six errors, twice as many as any other Pirate. The Bucs as a club have made 33 errors, which leads the MLB. Pittsburgh has four straight games with two or more errors.
• Tonight was is Military Wednesday and as there were no troops (flesh & blood, anyway) in the stands, PNC Bank and Pirates Charities instead donated $5,000 to Operation Troop Support. Hoo-rah!
• Sad news: Tom Terrific passed away today. Seaver was 75.