Post-Game Wrapup: McCutchen; Bullpen; Correia; Alvarez & Overbay/Double Switch

W: Ryan Dempster (6-6)

L: Kevin Correia (11-7)

S: Carlos Marmol (19)

— No late inning magic from the Pirates (46-43) who lost to the Chicago Cubs 6-3 on Saturday night at PNC Park.

Ryan Dempster allowed seven hits and three runs, earning his 6th win of the season. Dempster though was furious when pulled from the game after the 5th inning.

Pirates starter Kevin Correia (11-7, 4.01 ERA) took the loss, allowing 9 hits and 5 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Starlin Castro went 3 for 5 with a run and an RBI for the Cubs. Aramis Ramirez went 2-for-5 and continues to hit extremely well at the plate.

For the Pirates, Alex Presley had two hits and Matt Diaz who came into the game in the 4th inning, had two doubles.

The Pirates needed a win and a Milwaukee loss to move into a tie for first place.

The big news of the night for the Pirates was Andrew McCutchen being selected to the National League All-Star team.

“Yeah, definitely a good feeling, regardless of how it happened, ” McCutchen said. “Overall I’m on the team. Looking forward to seeing what’s in store. Everything’s going to be new, so, definitely excited about that.”

McCutchen joins closer Joel Hanrahan as the Pirates two representatives and Hanrahan called McCutchen the leader of the team, following tonight’s loss.

“He’s been the leader of this team all year on and off the field, ” Hanrahan said. I couldn’t be more happier for him.”

McCutchen said he found out during the game from manager Clint Hurdle. The Pirates announced the news on the scoreboard at PNC Park and McCutchen was met with a standing ovation from the sold out crowd, the 10th sellout for the Pirates.

Here are some post-game tidbits from manager Clint Hurdle…..

“We’re so proud of him. He earned his way. Proud of him and happy for him, ” Hurdle said.

The bullpen kept the Pirates in the game, allowing 1 run in a combined 5 1/3 innings.

“Thought our bullpen did an admirable job, ” Hurdle said. “One run. 5 1/3 innings they picked up. Mixed and matched.

“Leroux (1.1 IP – 0 ER) did a nice job and McCutchen (2.0 IP – 0 ER) backed that up. Got scratched for one run but everybody we sent out there kept us in the game. Unfortunately their {Chicago’s} bullpen was just as good or even better as they didn’t give up a run.”

Kevin Correia continued his struggles at home and was out of rhythm from the start.

Correia surrendered 2 runs in the first inning and had his shortest outing of the season, lasting 3 2/3 innings.

Correia allowed 9 hits and 5 earned runs, collecting his 7th loss of the season.

Correia who had previously won his last three starts, has a 5.94 ERA at home this season.

“Once he got behind the count and I don’t think he had the command he needed to have, ” Hurdle said. “That’s a very aggressive team that swings the bat. You have to throw good strikes. He threw strikes but they were elevated too much and catching too much on the plate.”

Reason for the double switch?

Hurdle pulled Lyle Overbay in the 4th inning after missing a throw to first from third baseman Josh Harrison, a throw Overbay should have had on a shorthop.

Overbay was 0-for-2 at the plate and also had the last out in the third inning.

Yet, Hurdle said the reason for pulling Overbay was because he wanted to make sure Leroux was able to pitch more than an inning.

Overbay appeared miffed at the switch.

“I wanted to stay away from Karstens if I could. He was out there, ” Hurdle said. “If you don’t make that move right there, my pitchers hitting 4th the next inning and there’s a good chance that pitcher is going to go up one inning and he’s the long guy and I took him out to give Leroux multiple innings to pitch.”

Hurdle on Alvarez

Pedro Alvarez was 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored for Triple-A Indianapolis tonight. Manager Clint Hurdle spoke earlier today about Alvarez and it sounds like Alvarez better have packed his bags for at least a couple weeks.

A concern from the Pirates continues to be Alvarez’s in-season conditioning.

“Here’s what we need you to do. “Get your work done defensively, ” Hurdle said when explaining what Alvarez needs to do.

“We need you to be in a condition that is good for you to play, to run the bases. To hit. We need a volume of bats struck together that has nothing to do with home runs, ops, or slugging percentage, where your squaring the ball up and hitting it hard where it’s pitched.”