Game 37 of 162 pits the Cubs number four starter Jason Hammel against the Pirates ace Francisco Liriano. The Cubs are coming off a two game double header losing streak but with the day off, they should be refreshed for the third place Pirates.
Hammel seems to have it all under control giving up only 4 hits through 5 innings. Liriano would match him but only through three innings. Ben Zobrist would lead off the fourth with a single, the Jorge Soler would snag a walk to reach the first. With no outs and two men out Addison Russell would send a fly ball to left field over the wall for three RBI home run! Jason Hammel would try to help himself out with a single but Dexter Fowler would end the inning with a double play.
Liriano would come back for the bottom of the fifth to reestablish himself starting with Jason Heyward who would lead off with a single. Again no outs but only one man on with Kris Bryant at the plate, another shot to left for a two run home run! Cubs up now 5-0. That wouldn’t be the end of it. Next at the plate, Anthony Rizzo would double to center. Zobrist would walk Two men on and no outs. Soler steps in the box and goes down swinging. Russell steps in the box to knock another one out of the park but he gets called out on strikes. David Ross steps in the box and sends a line drive to left center field for his 3rd dinger of the year. Hammel would end the inning but the Cubs are up 8-0.
Hammel comes into the 6th inning would with a comfortable lead. He would give up a leadoff double to Gregory Polanco and then a single to Starling Marte. Marte would steal second, Ross would make a wild throw allowing Polanco to score. Francisco Cervelli would send a soft ground ball scoring Marte. Hammel would get out of the inning with minimal damage. Cubs up 8-2.
Ryan Vogelsong would enter the bottom of the 6th and 1-2-3 on Fowler, Heyward and Bryant. Hammel still in it strikes out his first two batters, gives up a walk and that would be all for him. Adam Warren would replace him getting McCutchen to ground out. Jared Hughes enters the eighth and stops Rizzo, Zobrist and Soler with eases it appears.
With a bunch of moving around, Warren would come out for Clayton Richard but he would quickly be replaced after a leadoff double. Starling Marte would snack a single off of Trevor Cahill, then steal second base. Cahill would get the next three batters out ending the eighth.
Arquimedes Caminero would come into the game for the Pirates get the leadoff man out but give up s single to Ross. With two men out, Fowler would send a double to right scoring Ross, Cubs up 9-2. Heyward would ground out.
Cahill stays in for ninth getting two ground outs and a walk. Andrew McCutchen comes to the plate sending a fly ball to left center field for his 8th homer of the season. Pirates are threatening now and have four runs. Polanco walks. Starling Marte comes to the plate and sends a line drive to center to end the game! Cubs Win!
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