Pedro Alvarez continued his sizzling start to 2014 in a big way on Thursday afternoon, hitting a monstrous three-run home run that propelled the Pirates (6-3) to a series win over the Chicago Cubs (3-6) in a rubber match at Wrigley Field.
The game did not go well for Pittsburgh in the first six innings, as they trailed 4-0 with Gerrit Cole suffering from a two-error third inning and a rough fourth inning. Chicago plated three runs in that fourth, the last of which was scored by Starlin Castro when he appeared to be thrown out at home plate by Starling Marte on Welington Castillo’s single to left field. Home plate umpire Mark Carlson immediately called Castro safe, ruling that Tony Sanchez illegally blocked the plate under Major League Baseball’s new rule(s). Clint Hurdle briefly discussed the matter with Carlson, but was unable to challenge the ruling and the umpires chose not to review it themselves.
In the top of the seventh, however, Cubs starter Travis Wood was pulled after allowing a leadoff double to Neil Walker. Reliever Brian Schlitter promptly allowed a two-run home run to pinch-hitter Travis Snider, his second of the year, cutting the lead in half. After Starling Marte singled with one out and Andrew McCutchen walked with two outs, Cubs manager Rick Renteria pulled Schlitter in favor of lefty specialist James Russell. Russell threw one pitch to Alvarez, who clobbered a three-run shot to deep center for the lead. It was his fifth of the season.
Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli each pitched an inning of relief, earning Cole (2-0) his second victory in two starts and Grilli’s third save of the season. Chicago had two runners aboard with none out in the ninth against Grilli, and eventually load the bases, but could not bring them home to extend the game. Russell (0-1) recorded the loss for the Cubs.
The Pirates have won all three series to start the year and head next to Milwaukee for a three-game weekend series against the first-place Brewers (6-2 entering today).
