Pittsburgh Pirates Overwhelm Cubs At PNC Park To Keep Hot Streak Going
Sep 11, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker (18) scores a run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Gerrit Colewasn’t at his best, but the Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense kept rolling Friday night, getting 14 hits in downing the Chicago Cubs 7-3 at a packed PNC Park.
Leadoff hitterJosh Harrisonwent 3 for 4 with a walk to boost his batting average to a National League-leading .319, while No. 2 batterJordy Mercerhad three hits of his own to go with three RBIs, propping up a Pirates attack that preferred contact over power on this evening.
Andrew McCutchenandNeil Walkereach grabbed a pair of hits in the third and fourth spots in the batting order, with Walker driving in two runs. Backup catcherChris Stewartlofted two hits in the No. 8 hole, helping make up for the absence of a restingRussell Martin.
Pittsburgh (78-69) maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second wild card with its third win in a row and seventh in eight games. The Bucs have averaged nearly six runs per outing over that stretch, which followed a four-game slump to begin September.
Gaby Sanchez(double) andJose Tabata(triple) had extra-base hits to get the Pirates going in the second and fifth innings, respectively, but most of the damage was done with well-placed singles. Stewart and Walker knocked in early runs to put Pittsburgh ahead 2-0 against Cubs starterTsuyoshi Wada.
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Chicago youngstersJavier BaezandArismendy Alcantaralaunched solo home runs off Cole, sandwiching Mercer’s run-scoring hit in the fourth. Pinch-hitterIke Davishit a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 4-2 Pittsburgh, but Wellington Castillo kept the Cubs (64-83) close with an RBI single in the sixth.
Cole, who allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one, labored at the end of his six-inning start. After Castillo cut the lead to 4-3, Cole hitMike Oltwith a pitch, but escaped a bases-loaded predicament by getting Alcantara to pop out in foul territory. The right-hander threw 103 pitches, 69 for strikes.
Maybe the biggest moment of the game came in the bottom of the sixth. Stewart and Harrison were on first and second with one out, and both moved up 90 feet on a pitch that barely bounced away from Cubs catcher Castillo. That bit of opportunistic baserunning induced Chicago to bring the infield in, allowing Mercer to smack a two-run single just beyond the reach of second basemanLogan Watkins.
Bullpen sensationJohn Holdzkomstruck out two in a perfect seventh,Tony Watsondid likewise in the eighth, and an extra run generated by McCutchen (double) and Walker (single) gaveMark Melancona breather. Bucs relieverJohn Axfordnavigated a leadoff double by Olt to whiff a pair in the ninth and raise the Jolly Roger at the start of a nine-game homestand.
The pitching matchup for Saturday night’s game is all-lefty, withJeff LockeopposingFelix Doubrontas the Pirates try to reach 10 games above .500 for the first time this season. The Cubs have dropped seven in a row.