The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs completed a short two game series at Wrigley Field on Tuesday afternoon. While neither team is competing for the top spot in the division, the winner of this game would be sitting in third place. After nine innings of baseball that team would be Chicago as they came away with a 4-2 victory.
The Cubs got to Pittsburgh starter Bryce Wilson early with three runs in the first inning. Ian Happ collected a pair of RBI with a double to right center. He would then come in to score when Nico Horner doubled to right. Wilson worked six innings on the day and allowed those three runs on six hits to go with one walk and two strikeouts.
Chicago starter Keegan Thompson was lights out while pitching seven innings. He allowed two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts. Those two runs were scored in the seventh inning when Oneil Cruz blasted a 407 ft. two run home run to center field. Rowan Wick pitched the eighth and struck out two batters. Mychal Givens earned the save after striking out one batter in the ninth.
Tyler Beede allowed one hit and struck out a batter while pitching the seventh inning for the Pirates. The Cubs scored their final run of the game in the eighth inning on a solo home run by Seiya Suzuki. That run came off of Wil Crowe, who gave up three hits during his one inning of work on the mound this afternoon.
While the pitching for Pittsburgh has improved as of late, the same cannot be said for the offense. They were outhit today 10-4, and they still continue to play veteran players over younger ones. Hopefully the youth movement takes larger strides after the trade deadline passes next Tuesday. Up next for the Pirates is a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park beginning Thursday night.
Record vs. Cubs: 8-7
Record vs. N.L. Central: 18-29
Record on the Road: 19-33
Overall Record: 40-58
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
