PNC Park
Pittsburgh, PA
April 21, 2015
The Cubs match up with the Pirates in game two of their series, and after last night’s thrashing the Cubs spirits are pretty high, that and having ace hurler Jake Arrieta against Francisco Liriano, who has been hammered in three starts this year doesn’t hurt either.
The Cubs had a chance to hurt the Buccos early as Starlin Castro hits a one out double to left. Starlin is really on a hot streak, this being his fourth double in two games so far. Castro was on third with two outs when Kris Bryant draws a walk, but Miguel Montero strikes out to end the threat and the Pirates dodge a bullet and come to bat in the bottom of the first.
Jake looks good early on with two quick pop ups, and Andrew McCutchen rips a one hop smash that looks like it is headed for the gap when Starlin Castro makes a terrific diving stop and throws him out by just a step to end the inning and it is still scoreless after one inning.
As hot as Starlin Castro has been Chris Coughlin has been quietly producing, and apparently Liriano didn’t notice either. He grooves a fastball and Coughlin bashes this one into the left field seats and it just misses the upper deck and it’s out of here for his fifth homer of the year, and second in two nights.
Liriano seems upset and channels his anger and strikes out the next two hitters before Arrieta hits what looks like an inning ending fly ball, but somehow McCutchen does the unthinkable and misplays the ball for an error. Fortunately he is stranded and the inning comes to an end. Arietta continues to impress, and he retires the side in order again, and the Cubs are still on top 1-0 as we head to the third inning.
Liriano has moved to mostly breaking stuff this inning and he is having trouble hitting his spots. Anthony Rizzo hits a bloop single to center and is on second with two outs when Montero hits a floater just over Neil Walker’s head for an RBI single. Coghlan hits a single to left center, and Montero heads to third, but McCutchen’s throw is on the money and the slow footed backstop is nailed at third for the final out. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh the Cubs now lead 2-0.
Jake gets some more great defense, and it’s Castro again. He makes a great sliding stop in the grass just past the area between first and second and throws out Francisco Cervelli for the first out. Jake then gets the next two hitters and the Pirates have yet to reach base after three innings and the Cubs are still on top 2-0.
Liriano continues to struggle and Austin Jackson gets a flat slider and he hits this one towards the wall in right center field and Gregory Polanco makes a run to the wall but can only watch as this clears the wall for a home run. That’s number two for Austin. Liriano strikes out the next three hitters to end the inning, but the Cubs lead 3-0 now.
Jake retires the side again and is still perfect after four innings. The Cubs continue to hit. This time Kris Bryant strikes with a two out bomb to left field for his fourth homer of the year. The bullpen is in action, but thankfully the inning ends with the Cubs leading 4-0.
Jake’s perfect game bid ends with a two out double but Cervelli strikes out and the Pirates are kept off the scoreboard.
The Cubs had a rally stopped by some great defense by the Pirates. Jackson had walked with one out. Joe Maddon signals for the hit and run and Addison Russell hits a grounder up the middle, but Jody Mercer makes a great running grab and makes a strong throw for the out at first. Arietta strikes out and the Cubs still lead 4-0.
The Cubs flash some leather again in the bottom of the inning when Sterling Marte hits a shot down the right field line and Jackson makes a great running catch along the side wall in right for the final out and the Cubs still lead 4-0 after 6 innings.
The Pirates send in Arquimedes Cameniro for Liriano in the top of the seventh. He does not fare any better. Dexter Fowler rips a double into the right field corner to start the inning. Castro flies to center for out number one, but Cameniro hits Rizzo, who of course crowds the plate and runners are on first and second with just one out. Fowler then steals third and that was big as Bryant’s grounder may have been a double play, instead it’s a fielder’s choice and the run scores. Montero strikes out again and the inning ends with the Cubs on top 5-0 now.
Polanco gets a leadoff walk, but nothing happens as the next three hitters go down quietly. Neither team does anything and we go to the top of the ninth with the score still the same. Joe Blanton is in now and he really puts gas on the fire by giving up a single to Fowler to start the inning. He moved to second with one out and and moved to third on a wild pitch to Rizzo who eventually walks to put runners on the corners. Blanton then uncorks a wild pitch that scores Fowler and Rizzo takes second.
Montero hits a soft single to left and runners are on the corners when Coghlan unloads on another fastball, and this one is over the right field wall for his team leading sixth home run and second of the ball game! Jackson singles and steals second but the side is mercifully retired.
Arrieta gets two quick outs when McCutchen hits a shot that looked for a moment like it may leave the yard, but it hit high off the wall and Fowler has to make a strong throw to keep him to a double. Jung Ho Kang hits a grounder to Russell at short and the ballgame is over. The Cubs win 9-0 on Jake Arrieta’s two hit shutout.
Around the horn
The Red Sox beat the Rays 3-2. Boston shortstop Xander Bogearts was 4-5 with a stolen base. He is now hitting .452 this season
The Astros beat the lowly Mariners 4-2. Dallas Keuchel pitched a two hitter and Carlos Correa had a pair of homers, and now has 11 in just 13 games.
The Indians crushed the White Sox 4-0 with Carlos Carrasco tossing a 1 hit shutout.
I have never heard of Kevin Kiermaier but he is hitting .429 for the Rays.
