Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh PiratesCUBS 3 – PIRATES 2
Win: Travis Wood (1-0)
Loss: James McDonald (0-1)
Save: Carlos Marmol (1)
The Pittsburgh Pirates came up short Thursday afternoon, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Chicago Cubs who take two of three from the Pirates.
The Pirates wasted a strong outing from James McDonald who allowed two hits and one earned run in seven innings. McDonald struck out four and walked two in the loss. McDonald threw 98 pitches, 61 for strikes.
The Pirates bats were silent, managing just one hit through eight innings and a late rally in the ninth fell short. The Pirates only managed four hits in the game.
This loss will be about squandered opportunities.
Trailing 3-0 in the ninth, Andrew McCutchen singled to left, scoring Starling Marte to cut the Cubs lead to 3-1. Gaby Sanchez then singled to shallow right for his first hit of the season, scoring Russell Martin and Andrew McCutchen advanced to third base, setting the Pirates up with runners on the corners and no outs.
Carolos Marmol would strike out Pedro Alvarez on three pitches then got Neil Walker to hit into a game ending double play.
Andrew McCutchen knows it’s early and that the Pirates bats will come alive but the Pirates star center fielder said this group has to start winning these type of games. “Good teams get the job done,” McCutchen said of the Pirates coming up short in the ninth. “We just need to learn from that and do a better job next time. We’re not worried about anything or hitting the panic button.”
