PNC Park — It was the story of two innings for the Pirates and Cubs at PNC Park on Tuesday. The Cubs striking with 3 runs in the second and the Pirates striking back with 5 for themselves against the Cubs bullpen in the sixth as that was all they needed in a 5 – 3 victory.
Wandy Rodriguez had a shaky start to his outing as he got into trouble in the second. He would allow singles by Alfonso Soriano, Wellington Castillo, and Darwin Barney to make the score 1 – 0. Pitcher, Mat Garza would then come up for his first at-bat of the season with two out and hit a 2 RBI double into right-center to make it 3 – 0.
That would be the only runs Wandy would allow, though, as he shut down the Cubs over the next four innings. “Wandy’s a pro and no one is more disappointed than him when he gives up runs, especially when he gets clipped by the bottom of the order.” Said manager, Clint Hurdle. “He just held fast. No inning better than his last one. He was actually going to go back out, he had pitches to work with (only at 87). He gave us every opportunity to win the game by keeping us in the game when we were down early.”
Garza would get it done on the mound, as well, in his first start of the year as he went 4 1/3 innings of no-hit ball before giving up a single to Clint Barmes. He would reach his pre-established pitch count at the end of the fifth giving way to Hector Rondon. Rendon would allow a lead-off double to Neil Walker then a one out single and walk to Garrett Jones and Russell Martin to chase him.
James Russell would then come in to face Pedro Alvarez where he would walk him for the Pirates first run and Russell’s only batter. Pedro had a very productive at-bat as he held off a check-swing for ball four on a 3 – 2 pitch. Shawn Camp would be the third Cubs pitcher of the evening and things wouldn’t get any better. Camp would start things out good as he got Gaby Sanchez to fly out to short left. He wouldn’t be as lucky against pinch-hitter Travis Snider. Snider, who was 1-for-3 with a strikeout against Camp, sent a deep fly into the first row of the right-center field seats for his first career grand-slam and a Pirates 5 – 3 lead.
Snider knew some of Camp’s arsenal from his days playing alongside and against him; “I faced him (Camp) a few times and he made a mistake up in the zone and I just was able to get enough of it to sneak it over the wall and come through.”
From there, the Shark Tank trio of Justin Wilson, Mark Melancon would shut the Cubs down for 3 hits while striking out 3. Jason Grilli (Save #18) would make things interesting in the ninth by allowing a run while allowing the tying run to reach third. He would strikeout Anthony Rizzo, though, to end the game. Final Score: Pirates 5, Cubs 3.
Starters Lines:
Rodriguez (Win): 6 IN, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 H, 5 K’s. 87 Pitches (58 Strikes)
Garza (ND): 5 IN, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 K’s, 1 WP. 82 Pitches (49 Strikes)
Tomorrow’s Starters:
(LHP) Francisco Liriano (PIT) 2 – 0, 1.64 ERA
(RHP) Jeff Samardzija (CHI/NL) 2 – 5, 3.49 ERA
Game 2 of the 3-game tilt will be tomorrow night at 7:05.
(Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar)
