Two hits and five base runners. That was the Pittsburgh Pirates offense managed Tuesday night against Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta in a 5-0 loss.
The Pirates were not able to move runners when they were on base as they grounded into inning ending double plays in both the fourth and fifth innings. This was accomplished once again in the eighth inning against Tommy Hunter.
“Yeah we scattered a lot of hits out there but tonight it’s all about the starting pitcher,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Jake was really good and that’s what set the whole thing up.”
It took the Pirates 29 batters to get an extra base hit. It came on Starling Marte’s ninth inning one-out double.
Arrieta [12-6] came in with a 4-1 career record and 2.43 ERA against the Pirates in six career starts. His ERA was 1.29 in 14 innings of work against the Pirates this season.
“He is really an interesting pitcher and he is not there yet,” said Maddon. “He’s not as good as he is going to become and he will get really scary. There is another level in Arrieta the next couple of years, I firmly believe that.”
Arrieta faced the minimum amount of batters until the 12th at-bat when Andrew McCutchen singled for the lone Pirates hit of the game. The second hit came on a Marte seventh inning single.
J.A. Happ [0-1] on the other hand could not make it out of the fifth inning throwing 99 pitches in 4.1 innings of work.
Happ’s control was inconsistent in the first inning. He allowed a one-out nine-pitch single to Chris Denorfia. Following this Kris Bryant reached first base on an Aramis Ramirez error and Anthony Rizzo hit a single of his own loading the bases. Happ issued a five-pitch walk to bring a runner home. Despite Ramirez’s error, the run was earned.
In the third inning, Rizzo recorded a one-out double, his 27th of the season and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs Starlin Castro doubled, his 10th of the season. The next batter, David Ross then singled in Castro.
After Rizzo doubled again and Jorge Soler walked, both with one out, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle removed Happ from the game and brought Jared Hughes in.
”I made a few mistakes specifically to Rizzo and Castro and that ended up hurting me,” Happ said. “If I could be a little more economical it should be a different story.”
Hughes’ first pitch was hit for another double once again from Castro. This scored Rizzo. Hughes allowed an additional run in the sixth inning on a Soler single which plated Bryant.
Arquimedes Caminero pitched 2.1 innings of relief following Hughes and struck out a career high six batters. His ERA is now down to 4.04. It was at 4.47 three appearances prior.
Rizzo recorded four hits in the Cubs win which gives him his fourth career four-hit game and first this season. The Cubs had 24 base runners in this game to the Pirates seven.
“I was anxious to get out there and I put us in a tough spot only going as far as I did,” said Happ of his start. “I’m going to be better and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
This series concludes Wednesday evening as Dan Haren [7-7 3.42 ERA] faces Jeff Locke [6-6 4.21 ERA]. Locke is 1-2 with a 5.75 ERA in eight career starts against the Cubs. Locke has had his struggles in three starts against the Cubs with an 0-1 record and a 10.22 ERA.
Photo credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
