The Buccos opened the night portion of the 2013 season with a 3 – 0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Wandy Rodriguez was “Wandyful” (had to do it) as he went 6 2/3 allowing 2 hits and striking out 6 in a combined shut-out. “His fastball had a lot of late-life, had great pace, stayed aggressive, and the breaking ball was a good pitch for him tonight”, said manager Clint Hurdle, “His fastball was real good tonight.”
The Pirates got on the board in the fourth after a getting a lead-off single by Garrett Jones. Cutch would follow with an RBI double down the left field line to make it 1 – 0. Pedro Alvarez would then move Cutch to third on a ground out to first. Gabby Sanchez would come up and hit one to Starling Castro, who booted the backhand try allowing the ball to go into left field scoring Cutch to make it 2 – 0.
Cubs starter, Edwin Jackson would last 5 innings as the Pirates worked his pitch count to 92 pitches after a long 4th inning. Hector Rondon would make his ML debut for the Cubs in the 6th and work around 2 walks to throw a scoreless inning.
The Cubs would finally get something going against Wandy in the 7th. He would drill Rizzo on the arm to lead-off the inning and Alfanso Soriano would follow with a single to make it first and second with no out. Rodriguez would strike Hairston out looking before plunking Castillo to load the bases. Wandy would then work the count full to Brent Lillibridge before striking him out looking on a curveball.
Hurdle would then bring in Tony Watson and he would fall behind Alberto Gonzalez 3 – 0 before throwing 2 straight strikes and popping him up to end the threat. “That’s being a stopper, said Jason Grilli, “A stat that’s overlooked is inherited runners and that’s a relievers job”. The Pirates would then get insurance in the bottom after a Barmes lead-off double, followed by a Watson sac bunt and Marte base-hit to make it 3 – 0.
Watson would pitch a perfect 8th setting up Jason Grilli’s first save opportunity as a closer. He would only need 11 pitches as he blanked the Cubs clinching the Pirates first victory of the season and evening their record at 1 – 1. “This has been some kind of journey for me.” Said Grilli, “It’s something I know my dad always wanted to do in his career and I’m doing it. I always thought I was capable of doing it, I finally got the chance”.
The Pirates will finish off their opening series against the Cubs tomorrow afternoon at 12:35 before heading to the West Coast for a 6-game road trip at the Dodgers (3 games) and Diamondbacks (3 games).
Time of game: 2:55
Paid attendance (I stress the paid part as there were only about 12,000 fans here): 27,667
