The Cubs have just dropped five games and the first the series against division rival Pittsburgh Pirates. Jon Lester gets the nod looking for his first win since June 18th with the Pirates in Chicago. He’s also looking to have a better start since July 3 when he only went 1 & 1/3 innings. With just his third start for the Bucs, Chad Kuhl is looking for his second win of his young career but it would not start off smoothly with a one out walk to Kris Bryant who would score on Ben Zobrist putting the Cubs up by 2 in the first.
Lester would get through the the 1st with a walk to David Freese but gets out of it quick with a ground out double play. He would then start the 2cd off with a walk to Jung Ho Kang, then a single to Starling Marte, then another walk to Sean Rodriguez. He give the Bucs their first run by hitting Josh Harrison. Eric Fryer would send a fly ball to center, scored as a sac fly scoring Marte. With Kuhl in the box, Wilson Contreras would attempt a pick off a throwin error would allow Sean to score the third run of the inning, Bucs up by 1.
Anthony Rizzo starts off the 3rd with a triple. Wilson would make up for the run he gave to the Bucs by driving Rizzo home on a ground ball between short and third. Jason Heyward bumps him up to second as he singles to left. With an early pitching change, Juan Nicasio enters the game and it would be Javier Baez with two outs drives in Wilson to take the lead by 1.
Lester starts the 3rd off by giving up a lead off home run to Andrew McCutchen to tie the game. Sean Rodriguez with two outs, also smacks a solo shot to left center but he gets out of the inning. Pirates 5-4.
Juan gives up a leadoff double to Bryant that scores on Rizzo’s line drive double to right. Arauimedes Caminero would enter the game to close out the top half. Lester would be pulled for Adam Warren ho gives up a single and a walk and it would be McCuthen’s single that brings in both base runners to put the Bucs up by 2.
Caminero strikes out the side in the 5th. In the bottom half, Warren would load the bases walking Marte, intentionally walking Matt Joyce and a single to Eric Fryer. Josh Bell Would enter the game pinch hitting for Caminero. On a 1-1 count, Bell would take Warren out of the park and into the Alleghany River for a Grand Slam for his first major league home run. Jody Mercer would follow with a solo shot to add to the lead, 12-5 Bucs.
A.J. Schugel would enter the game waking Bryant who advances to third on Rizzo’s single and scores on Zo’s double play ground ball. Bucs 12-6.
Spencer Patton, Justin Grimm and Hector Rondon each take an inning each seeing three batters with Rondon striking out the side.
The Cubs would get a base runner in each of the last three innings but no one crosses the plate or brings them within reach to winning. The Pirates move to second place putting themselves within 6.5 games. The Cubs need a W on Sunday and to be honest, need the All Star break off to gather themselves but maybe the festivities can be a good change of pace for them breaking up the recent string of losses this month.
Go Cubs Go!
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