Bucs Brighten the Day By Taking 6-2 Win From Cubs

The skies brightened up a bit and yay, we’re playing ball. JT Brubaker didn’t waste any time, dispatching the Cubbies on eight pitches. Redbeard doubled with two away against Alec Mills before Gregory K’ed. In the second, Chicago used a two-on, two-out single to cash in a run. B-Rey opened with a two-bagger, but the Bucs could move him no further than to third. The Windy City boys started off the third with an infield single to third, double and JT Riddle throwaway (the Cubs were targeting Riddle at 3B this inning; solid strategy) for another run, with Bru doing good work to limit it to that. The Pirates led off with a JR Murphy double followed by an error that allowed Tuck to reach. A Gonzo sac fly got the run back, and Gregory’s two-out knock put Bucs on the corners. B-Rey then swatted a 2-1 change into the Clemente seats to make it 4-2 good guys. The Cubs fourth was interesting with an opening knock, strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out DP, then two more singles before it ended. The Pirates drew a walk. It was a 1-2-3 fifth for JT. Gregory singled with two gone, but B-Rey flew out this time around.

Sam Howard came on for the sixth, and a single/double/walk triplet put him in one-out hot water, loading the sacks. Sam got a big K, then Geoff Hartlieb climbed the hill and finished the job. Jason Adam took over, and a walk, error and stolen sack got him into a one-out jam with Pirates at second and third. After a whiff, he got two strikes on Tuck, but Cole eventually won the day by dropping a two-run pop single into left. Kyle Ryan was called in. He gave up a walk before Gregory knocked one off his foot that took a kindly hop to second and closed the gate with the tally 6-2. Geoff stayed on, and a K, single and 4-3 DP made for calm sailing in the seventh. Duane Underwood Jr was the next Cub in line and left Fraze at second after his one-out two-bagger. Nik Turley opened the eighth with a free pass, quickly corrected by a 6-4-3 DP and strikeout. Craig Kimbrel climbed the mound and fanned a pair in an easy frame. Ric Rod had the ninth inning honors. After two swingin’ strikeouts, Gonzo threw away the third out, so RR went back to regular programming and punched out Kris Bryant. Raise the Roger.

The Pirates attack stayed clutch; five of their six runs came with two outs. On the other hand, two more errors made for their fifth straight game with multiple miscues and kept them atop MLB in boots, although their 81 DPs are in the top ten, too. But it was a good day; the rain stayed south and allowed the Bucs to salvage a game against the Chicago nine.

Notes:

• JT Brubaker won his first big league game today.
• B-Rey celebrated daddyhood with a double and homer; Tuck and Gregory also had two hits each. Redbeard and Fraze reached base twice with a knock and walk.
• The Cubs Ian Happ left the game when a foul took a bad hop and smacked him in the face while he was batting (he suffered an eye contusion; X-rays were negative). Happ, if the name rings a bell, played for Mt. Lebanon HS.
• J-Bell is the Pirates 2020 Roberto Clemente Award Nominee.