One night after being embarrassed by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates got a sense of revenge on Wednesday night. Pittsburgh would outhit Chicago 15-12, and outhomer them 3-2, to go on and pick up a 13-7 win and even the three-game series at one game apiece.
The Cubs took the lead in the second on a single to left center by Seiya Suzuki. They would hold the lead until the Pirates scored seven runs in the fourth. Jack Suwinski tied the game with a single to center. Henry Davis then plated a pair with a single to right. Liover Peguero hit an RBI single to center and then scored when Joshua Palacios hit a three-run homer to center.
Jared Triolo hit a solo homer in the fifth and then Chicago put up five runs in the bottom of the inning. Chirstopher Morel hit a solo homer to left, which was followed by a grand slam from Ian Happ later in the inning. In the sixth Jason Delay would score on a fielder’s choice. Connor Joe would close out the inning with a two-run home run to left center.
The Cubs scored their final run of the night in the sixth on a Patrick Wisdom single to left center. Pittsburgh’s final runs would come in the ninth. Triolo continued to swing a hot bat when he hit an RBI single to left center. Joe would come across to score the last run when Peguero hit into a fielder’s choice.
Twenty runs in a game is a bad time to be a pitcher. Mitch Keller grabbed a win even after allowing seven runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 5.2 innings. Ryan Borucki, Carmen Mlodzinski, Colin Holderman, and Hunter Stratton would combine to throw the remaining 3.1 innings, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Chicago starter Justin Steele was tagged for six runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over three innings. The bullpen would also struggle as six pitchers came out of the pen to throw the remaining six innings. They would allow seven runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
This was a great response by the Pirates and gives them a chance to win the series on Thursday night. Keller would collect his 200th strikeout of the season during this contest. Game time for the series finale Is 7:40pm with the pitching matchup scheduled to be Johan Oviedo for Pittsburgh and the Cubs going with Kyle Hendricks.
Record vs. Cubs: 2-10
Record vs. N.L. Central: 22-26
Record on the Road: 33-41
Overall Record: 71-81
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
