Final Score: Pirates 13 Cubs 7
Why The Pirates Won: They simply just out hit the Cubs. This has been quite an offensive series. There has been a total of 35 runs scored combined in the 2 games, 21 by the Cubs and 14 by the Pirates. This game looked like it should be a pitcher’s duel with both clubs sending out their best pitcher. The Pirates got to Justin Steele in the 4th inning in a big way, getting 7 runs in the inning, with 6 runs being charged to Steele. He could not get an out in the 4th inning, giving up 6 singles in a row. Josh Palacios got the big hit a 3-run homer to make the score 7-1. With Keller on the mound, you had to have the feeling that this one was in the bag, especially after having such an easy 4th inning. Wrong, Josh Palacios hater. The Pirates added a run in the top of the 5th on a Jared Triolo solo home run. In the bottom of the 5th the Cubs just started hitting rocket shots, and I do mean rocket shots off of Keller. In order, home run, single, single, home run, double, with none of the hits under 103 MPH. There was on one weak ground ball that resulted in an out. Again, Oscar Marin came out in the middle of all this, probably setting a major league record. For two games in a row, shortly after one of his worthless trips to the mound, a grand slam home run was hit. I was surprised that the Shadow let Keller stay in the game, but I guess in his warped mind, it was more important for Keller to get a pitching victory, rather than the Pirates winning the game. Somehow, he did manage to get the last 2 outs to pick up his 13th win. Fortunately, the bullpen came through, shutting down the Cub offense, allowing the Pirates to beat the Cubs for only the 2nd time this year.
Key Moment Of The Game: The 4th inning explosion by the Pirates. The Pirates wasted a golden scoring opportunity in the top of the 1st when they had 2nd and 3rd and 1 out. Connor Joe, taking a page out of the Daniel Vogelbach hitting instruction manual, took 4 pitches in a row, with 3 of them called strikes. Two runners in scoring position and Joe does not take the bat off his shoulder. There is an old adage, if you let a good pitcher off the hook in the 1st inning you will pay the price. If looked like this was going to happen when the Pirates went up and down in order the next 2 innings. However, in the top of the 4th the Pirates’ bats came alive, resulting in the big 7 run inning that carried the Pirates to victory.
Next Game: Tonight, Cubs in Chicago. Let’s hope that anybody attending tonight’s game does not have to go to work early tomorrow. The Pirates are sending Johan (100 Pitch 5 Inning) Oviedo to the mound. If Kyle Hendricks is having control issues, which sometimes he does, this could be the longest 9 inning game of the year. The longest 9 inning game this year that did not go extra innings is 3 hours and 58 minutes. This could be broken tonight.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 