After a difficult time on the road, the best thing to do is go home. That’s exactly what the Pittsburgh Pirates did, and PNC Park was happy to see them. The starting pitching was phenomenal, the bullpen was solid, and timely hitting from the team’s offensive stars wrote the recipe for a series sweep of the Chicago Cubs.
Tuesday, May 4: Paul Maholm pitched a solid 6 innings against a red hot Cubs offense on Tuesday, giving up 2 runs while scattering 8 hits on his way to his 2nd win of the season. Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan, and Octavio Dotel pitched an inning each of hitless baseball, securing the Buccos 3-2 win over their division rivals.
Alfonso Soriano and Giovano Soto each blasted a solo homerun, serving as the Cubs only 2 runs of the game. The Pirates’ scoring also came a pair of homeruns, including Andy LaRoche’s solo shot in the 1st and Ryan Church’s lead-changing 2 run shot in the 6th, scoring Garrett Jones. The Pirates ended a 3 game losing streak and got the homestand off to the bright start, defeating the Cubs at PNC Park.
Wednesday, May 5: Charlie Morton pitched his best game of the year by far, lasting 6 innings of 2 run, 5 hit baseball, on his way to his first win of the season. Once again, Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan, and Octavio Dotel pitched shutout baseball for the 2nd night in a row, holding the Cubs hitless from the 6th inning on.
Garrett Jones was the hitting star for the Pirates, going 2-4 with 2 RBI, while Bobby Crosby, Andrew McCutchen, and Ronny Cedeno each added two hits as well. The Pirates had control of the game for the 2nd straight day, and took down the Cubs one out at a time, wearing them down on the way to a 4-2 win, securing a series win and opening the door for the opportunity of a sweep.
Thursday, May 6: For the 3rd straight game, a Pirates pitcher was the best player on the field. This time, Brian Burres was the hero, pitching 7 shutout innings, while only allowing 3 hits and issuing 3 walks. The bullpen surrendered only 1 run on 3 hits, accumulating a series total of just 5 runs in the 3-game set.
The Buccos destroyed Cubs’ pitching, scoring 11 runs in the first 4 innings, including 5 in the 1st inning alone. Lastings Milledge went 2-3 with 4 RBI, and helped put the game away early in the 4th. Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen had 2 hits a piece, while Ryan Doumit and Ryan Church had a hit as well, and the Pirates made the Cubs look like a minor league ball club, on their way to a 11-1 victory.
When the starting pitching is solid, the Pittsburgh Pirates are a good baseball team. That’s right, a GOOD baseball team. They are not an overpoweringly aggressive offense, but if kept in a game through the first handful of innings, accumulate timely hits, are patient at the plate, and make smart decisions. Their record in close games in phenomenal, and with every game like the 3 they have played here against the Cubs, the Buccos gain more and more confidence that yes, they can play with the teams of the N.L. Central. Their next opponents are the St. Louis Cardinals, the top team of the division. The Pirates certainly have the momentum going into this series, especially considering the Red Birds were just swept by the Philadelphia Phillies. Zane The Train Heiple and I will be at the Buccos-Cards games on Saturday and Sunday, so be sure to check out our FFTS videos coming up. Here’s to a great upcoming weekend!
Current Record: 13-15
And…As Always…Let’s Go Bucs!
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