Fans waited through three hours and 29 minutes of rain, thunder and lightning, however, just before midnight, Monday’s contest between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs was postponed.
There is no make up date currently schedule though the Pirates game notes have a doubleheader between the two teams listed for September 15. The Cubs return for a series September 15-17.
J.A. [pronounced Jay] Happ will make his Pirates debut in tonight’s game against Jake Arrieta.
Happ posted a 4-6 record with a 4.29 ERA with the Seattle Mariners before coming to the Pirates. He will be the either starting pitcher the Pirates have used this season. He has a career 1-2 record with a 5.57 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs. This is his first time facing the Cubs since June 30, 2012. In his last outing, Happ lost allowing seven runs [six earned] on nine hits in 3.1 innings against the Minnesota Twins.
Arrieta is currently tied for third in the National League with 17 quality starts. Arrieta’s 11 wins are a career high and is the first Cubs pitcher since Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster [2008] to earn 10 wins prior to the All-Star Break. Arrieta has 147 strikeouts, which rank fourth in the NL and 20 away from a career high. He is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in two career games against the Pirates. Arrieta’s last start came against the Milwaukee Brewers and he earned a no-decision. His six inning, two runs allowed performance however was good for his eighth-consecutive quality start.
Seventh inning stretch: Monday it was announced that Jung Ho Kang was named the NL Rookie of the Month for July. He batted .379 and produced a .443 on-base percentage.
He spoke in an exclusive interview prior to the game about what the honor meant to him.
“It means a lot to me and I’m very happy to receive the NL Rookie of the Month Award,” Kang said through interpreter H.K. Kim. “The players and coaching staff always make me feel comfortable here and that helps a lot.”
Manager Clint Hurdle was not surprised to see Kang receive the recognition.
“He had a great month of July and was a lot of fun to watch,” said Hurdle. “He’s been getting better incrementally every month and has become a very solid and consistent player in our lineup and a solid and consistent player in the field. He has been a very solid addition to the club. Every day he picks up something and learns.”
Kang has enjoyed what he calls the laid back nature of Pittsburgh and appreciates the support fans have given him.
“I think fans are getting louder and like me,” said Kang. “I’ll do my best to give back to the fans.”
Bottom of the ninth: Francisco Cervelli will host a culinary craft camp Friday from 10-12 with 30 kids from the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. This will take place at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
“When I’m not playing baseball I love to cook,” Cervelli said in a press release. “Growing up in Venezuela, we spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking as a family. More recently I started painting in the off-season and realized how much I enjoy it, so I’m thrilled to spend the day with the kids from the Y for my first culinary and crafts community program.”
Triple-A Indianapolis outfielder Keon Broxton went 2-for-4 with a walk last night to extend his on-base streak to 27 games which is the longest active streak in the International League and third-longest in the league this season behind former Pirate Matt Hague [37 games] and Taylor Motter [28 games]… With Neil Walker’s 10th home run this past Sunday, he now has six consecutive seasons with at least 10 homers as a second baseman which extends his club record. Additionally, Walker’s 34 extra base hits are tied with Joe Panik of the San Francisco Giants for most among second basemen… The Pirates rank second with 21 outfield assists… The Pirates are 48-25 this season is a starter goes six innings or more.
Photo courtesy: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
