Series Review: Cubs at Pirates

The Cubs went to Pittsburgh for four games against the Pireates (AKA piebutts). Playing at PNC, the Cubs won just one of four, clinching a playoff spot. The Cubs won 6/10 overall against the Pirates this season, so if it is of any condolence, they were due to drop a few.

At least we scratched out a bingo. We are all for positives here at Cubs DNA.

September 21st:

Cubs Win 5-0

Jon Lester was fantastic, scattering 4 hits for 6 shutout innings. In 90 pitches, he stuck out 1 and walked 1, limiting hard contact most of the night. Ryan, Jeffress, and Winkler each had scoreless innings, with Winkler striking out the side on 13 pitches.

Cubs hitters had a good night for once. The score 5 runs off 8 hits and 2 walks. Javy Baez had a surprise bunt RBI single in the 2nd. Caratini had an RBI double in the 5th. Schwarber had a 2 run double in the 8th inning, then bote had an RBI single. Plenty of timely hits.

September 22nd:

Cubs Lose 2-3

Jose Quintana got the short start in this one, throwing just 2 innings of 1 run ball. As he was on a 40 pitch limit, he was done after throwing 34 through 2. Adbert Azolay became the real story, debuting a new slider. He went 4 innings, struck out 7 on 63 pitches. 2 hits, 2 walks, and 1 earned run. The Pirates would walk it off on Chafin.

Cub bats were silent through 7 innings, before Anthony Rizzo had a big game tying homer in the 8th inning. Bats were limited to 5 hits and 3 walks.

September 23rd:

Cubs Lose 1-2

This was an odd pitchers duel, as all the runs scored came in the first inning. Kyle Hendricks gave up back to back homers in the first, then continued on with shutout innings. Final line 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 H 1 BB 3 K. It was a good night, even though he got stuck with a loss.

The bats struggled again. Rizzo had a solo home run, and that was it. The Cubs had 5 hits and walked 5 times, but just couldn't get anything going against Trevor Williams and the Piebutt bullpen.

September 24th:

Cubs lose 0-7

The Cubs had 2 hits and an error as they got shut out. Alec Mills got lit up. This was the worst game all year, and David Ross said they'd throw it in the trash.

The Cubs are now 32-25. Still in first, with a 2.5 game lead. All things considered, it could be worse. The Cubs basically can't get swept while STL and CIN sweep their final series.

Sparklepants are still in transit, and can't get to hurdle soon enough.