Hayes Has Brilliant Debut, But Otherwise It's SOB: Cubs Win 8-7 In Extra Innings

Well, welcome home. Ian Happ thwacked Chad Kuhl's second pitch into the river on one hop before, thanks to a couple of smoked outs, retiring the side. The Pirates Erik Gonzalez drew a walk and Tuck singled to open against Jon Lester, but nothing was cookin' after them. After back-to-back singles with one away in the second, Gonzo fumbled a DP bouncer that would have ended the inning; instead it juiced the sacks and a walk put another run on the board. Redbeard got it back after a leadoff double, coming around on a pair of grounders. Chad worked a 1-2-3 third while the Pirates got Gonzo rap and Kevin Newman walk, leaving a couple of more men on base. Chicago got a walk and knock to open the fourth; a 6-4-3 DP took off most of the pressure, but Jason Kapnis' two-out rap made it 3-1. Colin started off with a rap, but stayed anchored at first. After a leadoff knock, Tyler Bashlor was beckoned in the fifth. He got an out, then Javy Baez doubled and Kyle Schwarber homered to put the Cubs up by a handful. The Pirates had no response.

Dovy's had a bumpy year but was solid tonight - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates 

Dovy Neverauskas worked the sixth and posted a zero on a hit. With one gone, Stalls singled and Redbeard walked. KeBryan collected his first MLB knock, a double, Fraze singled, Joey O smacked a two-bagger before Gonzo hit a sac fly (it almost dropped in) off new reliever Colin Rea, each blow chasing home a run, and it was interesting again at 6-5. Dovy stayed on for the seventh; with two down and a runner on second via a walk/steal combo, Shelty called on Geoff Hartlieb, who got the last out. Colin Rea retired the first hitter, then Kyle Ryan was called in and sandwiched a walk between two whiffs. Shelty began the eighth by getting bounced by the ump (the last Pirates strikeout featured no swings taken by Moran because no strikes were thrown by Ryan), but it didn't faze Hartlieb, who 1-2-3'ed the Cubbies thanks to a DP. Dan Winkler came on and was sent right back in as the umps called for the tarp.

The 70-minute rest did Ke'Bryan good; he got a 2-0 cutter and dropped it over the centerfield wall; pretty good opening night for the youngster. Fraze walked, and after a force and fly out, Rowan Wick was waved in. He nailed the final out and it rained some more as they played on. Ric Rod claimed the bump in the ninth. He was touched for a single with an out by Kris Bryant; he moved up when Gonzo tried to double him up on a line out; his throw hit Bryant and then J-Bell doubled up with a wayward toss trying to catch Bryant at second. He galloped to third on a wild pitch, but it ended well. Rodriguez survived the infield yips when Ke'Bryan decided to go home to catch Byrant for the third out; whatever works. Kevin Newman opened with a double and J-Bell was walked intentionally. Jake tried a bunt and eventually K'ed. Joel Osich was then handed the ball. He got Redbeard to fly out and fanned KeBryan.

Geoff has stepped it up - photo Michael Reaves/Getty

Chris Stratton answered the phone for the 10th; a grounder moved the free runner to third. The Cubs then ended up with runners on the corners when J-Bell muffed a routine one-hopper, scored as a fielders choice. A sac fly put Chi-town on top. A single left Baby Bruins on the corners again for a minute before second was stolen, but a comebacker finished the frame. A bouncer moved the Bucs' freebie, Hayes, to third. Anthony Alford pinch hit and hit a weak chopper to Osich; Key beat the flip home with a sweet fade slide. Jeremy Jeffress toed the slab and got a liner to short that was turned into a DP when Alford went the wrong way and more bonus ball was on tap. Kyle Crick was in line for the 11th and Ian Happ greeted him by singling home the free guy. The next three outs were routine. Jeffress got two outs while freezing Gonzo on second and walked J-Bell intentionally. Stalls fanned to finish off another down-to-the-wire loss. 

The Pirates are 1-5 in extra innings and 3-9 in one-run games, and almost all of them are thanks to outs they give away both in the field and on the bases. It's hard to cover the fundamentals when there's no consistency in the lineup, but we're guessing by now that's the road they're on to the bitter end.

Notes: 

• Young Hayes went 2-for-5 with a double, homer, three runs scored and two RBI; he wasn't challenged much in the field. Colin Moran had two hits and a walk. The Pirates went 3-for-19 w/RISP tonight and stranded a dozen runners.
• Kyle Crick averaged 95-96 on his heater from 2017-19; now he's down to 91-92, and has lost the same 4 MPH on his slider. That's pretty worrisome going into the future...
• Bryan Reynolds and his wife Blair welcomed Reese Scott Reynolds into the world yesterday.
• Minor league OF Socrates Brito’s brother passed away from Covid-19 last week and Brito is considering opting out of the remainder of the season per a team statement.
• Alex Dickerson, who the Bucs traded in 2013 for Jaff Decker, looks like he's finally playing healthy; he hit three homers & two doubles for the Giants tonight.