For the second time this season, the Chicago Cubs took the opening two games of its series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs won Tuesday night’s game by a 6-2 score.
Jeff Locke [2-1] did not make it into the fourth inning. Locke pitched 3.2 innings allowing eight hits, six runs [five earned runs], three walks and five strikeouts. Locke threw 86 pitches and had 53 strikes.
The Cubs scored three runs in the third inning off Locke. Addison Russell brought home the first with his third double of the season, scoring Starlin Castro. Dexter Fowler had a two-run single scoring Junior Lake and Russell. Fowler advanced to third on a Corey Hart throwing error. In his limited time at first base, Hart has a .875 fielding percentage.
Lake added an additional Cubs run in the third inning with his first double of the season to plate Castro. Lake was called up just before the Pirates series, with the Cubs sending down Brian Schlitter.
The Pirates countered with their lone two runs in the top of the fourth inning as Starling Marte hit his sixth home run of the season clearing the left field fence. Six of his 17 hits have been home runs. Andrew McCutchen also scored on the play after reaching base with a single which ended a streak of 10 consecutive batters retired by Travis Wood [2-1].
Wood threw seven innings in this contest allowing five hits, the two runs, and striking out nine batters in 90 pitches.
It was a two-run fourth inning for the Cubs which concluded scoring. Kris Bryant and Castro each had two-out RBI singles. The Pirates are 2-4 against the Cubs this season.
Antonio Bastardo got the last out of the fourth inning. Radhames Liz pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out two batters. Jared Hughes allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in his inning of work.
Gregory Polanco was held out of the Pirates lineup for a second consecutive day with tightness in his left groin.
Wednesday is the final game in this series with Gerrit Cole [3-0 2.19 ERA] taking on Kyle Hendricks [0-0 5.74 ERA]. Cole is 5-0 with a 3.48 ERA in his career against the Cubs. Cole posted a 3-0 record with a 4.50 ERA against the Cubs last season. He won his last start Friday against the Diamondbacks, pitching 7.2 innings and allowing one run. Hendricks received a no-decision in his last start Thursday against the Pirates. It was his first career start against the Pirates and he allowed three runs in 5.1 innings.
Photo credit: Gene J. Puskar/AP
