Pirates Morning Report

FINAL SCORE: PIRATES 0 CUBS 9

WHY THE PIRATES LOST: DILLON PETERS DID NOT LOOK RIGHT FROM THE START, AND THE CUBS EXPLODED FOR 8 RUNS IN THE FIRST. THE PIRATES HAVE BECOME, FOR NOW, THE HITLESS WONDERS. THEY WENT 12 AND 1/3 INNINGS GOING BACK TO SUNDAY BEFORE FINALLY GETTING A HIT. TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, ON 2 SWINGS WILLSON CONTRERAS HAD TWICE THE NUMBER OF TOTAL BASES, THAN THE PIRATES DID FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. THE PIRATES HAVE DEFINED THE TEAM BATTING SLUMP

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME: AS BAD AS THINGS LOOKED, THE CUBS ONLY HAD A 2-0 LEAD WITH 2 ON AND 2 OUT. THEN PETERS WALKED THE NEXT BATTER. ENTER BRYCE WILSON. HE GAVE UP A SWINGING BUNT AND THEN WALKED ANOTHER BATTER, TO GIVE THE CUBS A 4-0 LEAD. THEN CONTRERAS TOOK THE VERY FIRST PITCH AND SMOKED IT INTO THE LEFT FIELD STANDS FOR A GRAND SLAM. GAME OVER.

NEXT GAME: TONIGHT: CUBS IN CHICAGO. TEAMS, NO MATTER HOW BAD OR HOW GOOD, ALL GO THROUGH A BATTING SLUMP. THE KEY WILL BE, HOW LONG WILL IT LAST. THE ENTIRE TEAM HAS CAUGHT THE SOFT CONTACT OR STRIKE OUT VIRUS. THEY CAN ONLY HOPE IT WILL END SOON. MAYBE WE WILL HAVE THE CATCHER LEAD OFF, ONLY THE SHELTON KNOWS.