06/13/23 – By Ethan Smith – @mvp_Ethan on Twitter
The weather wasn’t the only thing that was bad at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a mixture of bad luck, below average pitching and inopportune mistakes would lead to the 11-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Things started hot in the first inning as Chicago native Jack Suwinski would put the Pirates on the board with a solo shot against former Pirate Jameson Taillon. Pittsburgh native Ian Happ would follow suit for the Cubs, sending a three-run home run over the right field wall at 110.3 mph off the bat to put the Cubs up 3-1 through the first inning.
Ji-hwan Bae would bring the Pirates within a run after losing the early lead in the second, scoring Josh Palacios with two outs in the top of the second.
The offenses would slow down considerably until Suwinski launched a 425 foot home run in the top of the sixth that went over the Wrigley Field scoreboard in right field, his second of the evening, to the tie the game at three a piece.
Despite giving up the three runs in the first inning, Luis Ortiz would have an otherwise ok start, going 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB and 4 K.
Dauri Moreta would enter in the bottom of the sixth and give up a run to Matt Mervis that would put the Cubs up 4-3. Moreta has of course done very well this season not allowing inherited runners to score but wasn’t able to escape in this outing, but he did get some luck as a ball in play that would’ve clearly scored another hit Miles Mastrobuoni on the base paths to end the inning.
Former Pirate Jameson Taillon would go six innings for the Cubs, allowing three runs while striking out four and was relieved by Julian Merryweather in the top of the seventh.
Yohan Ramirez would enter in the seventh and after loading the bases, he would hit Happ on a slider that got away, extending the Cubs lead to 5-3. Ramirez would follow by stabbing at a double play ball that would cost another run that would give the Cubs a 6-3 lead.
Ramirez would finish the inning, being relieved by Rob Zastryzyny, who would immediately allow two more on a Yan Gomes single to make it 8-3 Cubs in a monster seventh inning.
The Cubs would add on in the eighth, taking the game well out of reach as the Pirates would lose their first game against the Cubs in 2023 to start nine straight games against the NL Central.
Despite the loss, the Milwaukee Brewers lost to the Minnesota Twins, so the Pirates would retain first place in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh looks to tie the series tomorrow against the Cubs as Drew Smyly will face an undecided pitcher at the time of writing (likely Osvaldo Bido) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
News & Notes
- Game delayed due to weather at Wrigley Field
- Chicago native Jack Suwinski and Pittsburgh native Ian Happ homer in first inning
- Luis Ortiz pitches 5.1 innings and exits game with a 4.64 ERA
- Former Pirate Jameson Taillon goes six innings
- Pirates stay in first despite loss due to Milwaukee loss to Minnesota
Steel City Pirates 