PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It what looked to be a pitchers’ duel early turned into a Cubs blowout as the Pirates lose the first game of the homestand Tuesday night 9-0. It’s a third consecutive loss dropping the Pirates to 11-19.
Bucs starter Andrew Heaney hadn’t allowed a hit, but in the fourth inning after a groundout, you could see it coming. Kyle Tucker hit a 102.7 mile-an-hour liner that centerfielder Oneil Cruz made an outstanding running catch on, two steps before the wall. Then Seiya Suzuki doubled, Carson Kelly homered and even the last out of that inning was a hit that Michael Busch tried to turn into a double and was thrown out by Tommy Pham.
Fifth inning started with a double, a homer by Pete Crow Armstrong, then three walks scattered among a pair of outs and Heaney was removed after 70 pitches, less than half were strikes (43).
“Had some good defense the first three innings,” Heaney said. “You can’t defend homers or walks. Got to do a better job of keeping the ball in play and letting guys make plays for me.”
Heaney was coming off two straight shutout outings and had allowed a total of two runs combined in four of his five starts.
Reliever Joey Wentz allowed a pair of hits and two runs in a third of an inning and newly recalled Hunter Stratton gave up a run in two-thirds of an inning. David Bednar came on in the ninth and gave up a run after a Suzuki triple (only a single from the cycle) and a RBI single by Kelly (3 RBI Tuesday).
Shota Imanaga went five innings (six hits, walk, three strikeouts) for the win even though he had to leave early with a leg cramps.
Pirates managed seven hits, six singles and a double.
“At some offensively we are going to get healthy,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “We are going to get Spencer (Horwitz) back. We are going to get Gonzo (Nick Gonzales) back. We got to get some guys on track. There is just too much inconsistency.”
Notes
· Pirates pitchers struck out no Cubs batters, the first game Chicago has played without striking out one time since 2013.
“It’s very rare,” Shelton said. “I looked up in the seventh and saw that. I think you have to credit the Cubs approach. The one thing they do is they put the ball in play a ton. They do a really good job with their approach, one through nine.”
· Andrew McCutchen doubled giving him 434 for his career, tying him with Billy Williams, a Cubs Hall of Famer
· Pirates pitchers combined to walk (5), Pirates also walked 5 in their last game, Sunday at Los Angeles
· Double A Altoona pitcher Hunter Barco was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week. In 2 starts, 7.2 innings, no runs, 3 hits, 16 strikeouts
Up Next
Pirates said they are not yet talked about moving Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 6.95 ERA) back to the bullpen, but acknowledging he must improve as he starts against LHP Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.54 ERA) with the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show with Dan Zangrilli at 5:45 and first pitch at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan.