The Pittsburgh Pirates are attempting to earn a series split after a 4-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs last night. The Cubs won the first two games 5-2 and 9-8.
In the victory, Tony Watson earned his first save of the season getting the last six outs of the game. Gregory Polanco hit his first home run of the season.
Today’s starters:
In this afternoon’s game, Jeff Locke [2-0 1.93 ERA] will face Kyle Hendricks [0-0 6.10 ERA].
Locke was a 6-2 winner over the Milwaukee Brewers in his last start throwing eight innings and allowing four hits and one runs. Locke is 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA over the course of 28.1 innings pitch against the Cubs. Locke made one start against the team in 2014 and came out on the losing end.
“He was challenged the last game from my perspective and sometimes it’s just based on umpires or look,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “When he can get that glove side strike, right off the bat the game seemed to go much more aggressively better for him. He wasn’t getting that pitch the last time out. He stayed in counts, was stubborn with that pitch getting the ball in and started to get some calls.”
Hendricks has pitched in afternoon contests in all three of his outings thus far this season. He last start he struck out a career-high eight batters while retiring 14-straight batters. This is his first career start against the Pirates.
Pregame thoughts:
Hurdle told the media that Mercer was available off the bench last night if he was needed and also would have had the ability to swing the bat. He will rejoin the starting lineup tonight playing second base.
Hurdle stated that Andrew McCutchen is getting a scheduled day off and both Jared Hughes and Tony Watson are unavailable for today’s game. Mark Melancon however will once again be an available bullpen option.
This is Andrew Lambo’s second start of the season and first in right field. Sean Rodriguez is also making his first start of the season in left field. Chris Stewart will start at catcher for the second time.
Today’s lineups:
Pirates [7-8]
1. Josh Harrison 3B
2. Andrew Lambo RF
3. Gregory Polanco CF
4. Neil Walker 2B
5. Pedro Alvarez 1B
6. Jordy Mercer SS
7. Sean Rodriguez LF
8. Chris Stewart C
9. Jeff Locke P
Cubs [8-6]
1. Chris Denorfia LF
2. Anthony Rizzo 1B
3. Jorge Soler
4. Kris Bryant CF
5. Starlin Castro SS
6.Welington Castillo C
7. Addison Russell 2B
8. Kyle Hendricks P
9. Jonathan Herrera 3B
Bottom of the ninth:
Yesterday Rob Scahill revealed that he was going to wear his Chicago Blackhawks jersey upon leaving the game today. The team is expected to wear Penguins jerseys as it makes the flight from Pittsburgh to Phoenix to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. There has been a plot complication however.
“The jersey is now missing,” Scahill said. “I’ve got a few ideas on who the culprit is and I can’t share. I don’t know I might just have to wear my suit. Hopefully it shows up at the end of the game. We’ll see though.”
Former Pitt guard Brianna Kiesel threw out the game time first pitch prior to today’s game
“For me to be able to get a chance to throw out the first pitch, I’m honored,” Kiesel said. “I thought that it was a good one, it was on a bounce but at least it got there.”
Kiesel’s follow through on the pitch was similar to that of her jump shot
“It was just habit,” said Kiesel. “I’m a creature of habit and it came down to muscle memory.
Kiesel was drafted in the second round of this year’s WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock.
