Final Score: Pirates 3 Cubs 2.
Why The Pirates Won: The pitching returned to form. The Pirates’ staff limited the Cubs to 2 runs on 6 hits. They struck out 6 and walked 2. It was a good day’s work for Braxton Ashcraft, new call-up Evan Sisk, Isaac Mattson, and Dennis Santana. It was also a great day for the AAA boys. They went 4 for 11, including Jack Suwinski’s go-ahead home run in the top of the 9th. They also made some good defensive plays. It was a good thing because the top of the order was bad. The first 4 batters in the Pirates’ order went 0 for 14 with one walk. This all led to the Pirates snapping their 5-game losing streak. They will not lose 11 in a row.
The Key Moments Of The Game: It was a game of missed opportunities in the late innings for the Cubs. The Pirates just grabbed the lead 2-1 in the top of the 7th. Evan Sisk hit Pete Crow-Armstrong to start the inning. Isaac Mattson came in to pitch. Nico Hoerner singled to left. Dansby Swanson bunted the ball up in the air in front of the plate. The ball had backspin and sidespin on it. The ball eluded Henry Davis, and the bases were loaded. Matt Shaw hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. No other runners could advance. Mattson got two pop-outs to end the inning. In the bottom of the 9th, the play of the game happened. The Pirates were leading 3-2. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a single to center. On the very first pitch to the next batter, he tried to steal 2nd. Henry Davis’s throw was short and scooped up by Triolo. Crow-Armstrong, for whatever reason, slid way past the bag. He made a half-hearted effort to get back to the bag and was tagged out. The Pirate broadcast booth tried to make it sound like Triolo had made some great play. In my view, it was a huge baserunning gaffe by Crow-Armstrong. Regardless, it was the big play and out of the inning. The Cubs went quietly after that, and the Pirates had the win. It looks to me that the Cubs are feeling the pressure. Maybe the Pirates can take advantage.
The Next Game: This afternoon, Cubs in Chicago. Mike Burrows goes for the Pirates today. He has had a couple of shaky outings. Maybe he can turn things around today. Yesterday was the second big game for the AAA boys out of the last 8. Jack Suwinski stood out in both games. The Pirates won both of those games. I am still not ready to give anybody a promotion. It does show how a team has to have everyone contributing to pull out a win. We will see how many of them get to play today. Will they help again against the swooning Cubs?
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 