Pittsburgh — Edinson Volquez gave the Pirates a much needed quality start as the right-handed starter went seven shutout innings as the Pirates shutout the Cubs 4-0 to take the four-game series.
Volquez ran into some trouble throughout his start, but came out of those innings spotless. The first problem came in the third when the Cubs (26-38) threatened with first and second with one out. He then struck out Junior Lake and Anthony Rizzo to get out of the inning.
The Pirates (32-34) got on the board in the fourth. Andrew McCutchen started things off with a double to the notch. He moved to third on an Ike Davis single and scored on Russell Martin’s book-rule double to right. Jordy Mercer added a sac fly in the inning to make it 2-0.
The Cubs had an opportunity to bounce back in the fifth, but were denied by Volquez and the arm of Gregory Polanco. John Baker led the inning off with a walk and Darwin Barney followed with a single. Samardzija then moved the runners 90 feet with a sac bunt. Chris Coghlan then lifted a fly ball to Polanco, who caught the ball and fired a perfect one-hopper home to keep the runner at third. Volquez then struck out Lake to end the threat.
They threatened again in the sixth, but left with the same outcome as the Cubs had runners on second and third with one out. Volquez, once again, retired the next two batters via groundout and strikeout to end the inning. In his last five starts, Volquez is 3-1 with a 2.48 era.
“I think I’ve shut it down a little bit because I was rushing myself,” said Volquez. “I shut it down tonight and considering the start, seven innings no runs and maybe two walks. I was able to throw the ball where I wanted.”
The Pirates then rewarded Volquez in the bottom of the inning with more run support. Polanco and Marte led off the inning with singles and McCutchen knocked them in with a 2 RBI double. McCutchen reached third, but his popup slide pulled him off the base and he was tagged out before he could get back.
“You envision things and you get some young fresh legs at the top and probably the most impressive way is the way we were able to battle against one of the best pitchers in the league, throughout the lineup with the at bats, get some extra base hits and stretch [Samardzija] out a little bit,” said manager Clint Hurdle.
Tony Watson relieved Volquez to strike out the side in the eighth and Jared Hughes finished it with a no-hit ninth.
Final Score: Pirates 4, Cubs 0.
Starters Lines
Volquez: 7 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K’s. 99 Pitches (67 Strikes).
Samardzija: 6 + IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 IBB, 7 K’s. 94 Pitches (62 Strikes).
The Pirates will travel tonight to Miami to start a three-game series with the Marlins starting tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(LHP) Jeff Locke (PIT): 0-1, 5.11 ERA
(RHP) Nathan Eovaldi (MIA): 4-2, 3.27 ERA
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
