Series Thread: Pirates at Cubs

[Darkstone42]

After taking two of three at home, the Bucs head to Chicago to play the Cubs at Wrigley.

Morton vs. Jackson
Rodriguez vs. Hammel
Cole vs. Wood

Go Bucs!

 

[Darkstone42]

Marte with a leadoff double. Nice start.

 

[Darkstone42]

Now he's on third after the Snider flyout.

 

[Darkstone42]

Jackson wanted no part of Cutch in that situation, walked him on four pitches.

Let's go Pedro!

 

[Darkstone42]

2-0 Bucs after Pedro makes Jackson pay for the free pass to Cutch with a 2-RBI double!

 

[Darkstone42]

4-0 Bucs after the Pirates batted around in the first. Great start!

 

[Darkstone42]

Morton seemed to be wholly unbothered by the Marte error as he works an efficient scoreless first. His curveball looks good, too.

 

[sychmd]

what was the error.
any footage of the play.

 

[Darkstone42]

what was the error.
any footage of the play.

Long run to the ball, got under it, squeezed the glove too early.

 

[Darkstone42]

Snider's hit the ball hard twice, but has nothing to show for it yet today.

 

[dare2be]

Marte's error was eerily similar to last year's, but not quite as easy.

 

[Darkstone42]

Dribbler, bloop, fielder's choice, strikeout, hit, and the Cubs are on the board.

 

[Darkstone42]

Tough start so far for Morton. He's largely made good pitches and gotten weak contact, but Cubs are finding their way to the bases.

He made a good pitch to Valbuena, right on the edge of the zone, but he stayed inside it and drove it out.

 

[Darkstone42]

Cutch puts the Bucs back on top with an RBI single. Very nice.

 

[Darkstone42]

6-4 now on the Ishikawa RBI triple. Man, he's been a pleasant surprise early on.

 

[sychmd]

if marte continues to walk (and get HBP) he will have an amazing year.
hope this is a sign of the lasting maturity curve upswing.

 

[Darkstone42]

if marte continues to walk (and get HBP) he will have an amazing year.
hope this is a sign of the lasting maturity curve upswing.

He's been laying off a lot of pitches he tended to whiff on last year. It looks encouraging.

Speaking of maturity in our young players, Snider and Alvarez both seem to be committed to plate discipline and driving the ball to the opposite field, and it's paying off so far for both, I think. I could see Alvarez definitely having a major breakout season if he keeps doing this. Mercer also seems to be working the other way more than he did last year.

 

[Darkstone42]

Not a great start for Morton tonight, but at least he gave us six and saved the bullpen a bit, and as a bonus, we're still in the lead.

 

[dare2be]

Pirates need to break this habit of going into extra innings against the Cubs. Not looking good so far.

 

[Darkstone42]

Strop has some serious late movement on that fastball.