Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (61-43) vs. Chicago Cubs (57-47), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP J.A. Happ (4-6, 4.64) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (11-6, 2.62)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Update 5:15 p.m.: Good evening from PNC Park. It looks like the Pirates and Cubs are actually going to play baseball tonight, which would be a delightful change from last evening. … Even though he threw fewer than 40 pitches last night, Francisco Liriano apparently won’t be moved up in the rotation. His next start is scheduled for Sunday night against the Dodgers. Clint Hurdle hinted that Liriano, who recently missed a start with a neck problem, is too important for the Pirates to bring back on short rest, even if his work load was limited last night. “I doubt we will put him in place earlier,” Hurdle said. “It’s a guy three weeks removed from a neck injury.” Hurdle would like to break up the left-handed pitchers in his rotation. Liriano pitched last night, J.A. Happ pitches tonight and Jeff Locke is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. Off days on Thursday and next Monday may allow for such an opportunity. … Locke and A.J. Burnett played catch for a few minutes in left field this afternoon. Of course, Burnett was throwing with his left arm, as he obviously hasn’t been cleared to throw because of his elbow injury. … Hurdle has seen Michael Morse in the batter’s box one time, and it won’t even count as an official at-bat, but the manager liked what he saw. Morse smoked a line drive to deep left for a double against the Cubs last night. The hit didn’t come against a southpaw — Jon Lester had already been removed because of the rain delay, and Morse was in the lineup specifically to face him — but Hurdle isn’t going to use him exclusively against lefties. “Look at the splits,” Hurdle said. “There isn’t a dramatic difference for him against righties or lefties.” In fact, Morse possesses a .279 career average against right-handed pitching and a .271 career average against left-handed pitching. Hurdle loved Morse’s approach in his only at-bat as a Pirate. “That,” he said, “was a good swing.” … Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison again took some infield practice today, something that is becoming the norm. Both are on pace, or possibly ahead of schedule, to return to the lineup. Hurdle acknowledged that it is difficult for him to gauge this team without them. “We’re still playing without two good players,” Hurdle said. “They’ll be back.”
7:13: The J.A. Happ era is underway.
7:35: Cubs 1, Pirates 0: Jorge Soler drew a bases loaded walk against Happ, who needed 30 pitches to escape more trouble. Not looking good early, especially with Arrieta on the mound.
7:47: Brilliant play by Andrew McCutchen. Cut off a ball in the gap with a sliding stop, perfect throw to Jung Ho Kang, and he nails the runner at home. Beautiful baseball.
8:10: Cubs 3, Pirates 0: Happ hasn’t been good. At all. Starlin Castro ripped an RBI double and David Ross followed with a run-scoring single. Happ has permitted three runs and seven hits through three innings, while throwing 75 pitches. Yikes.
8:42: Cubs 4, Pirates 0: Happ’s night is over, thankfully for the Pirates. Not good. Jared Hughes is trying to get out of a jam, but Castro just hit a run-scoring double.
9:12: Cubs 5, Pirates 0: Hughes allows a run. The Pirates have one hit, by the way.
Michael Morse’ gets a second crack at introducing himself to Pittsburgh. — GETTY
August 4, 2015
Final: Cubs 5, Pirates 0
by Josh Yohe • Game previews
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (61-43) vs. Chicago Cubs (57-47), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP J.A. Happ (4-6, 4.64) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (11-6, 2.62)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Update 5:15 p.m.: Good evening from PNC Park. It looks like the Pirates and Cubs are actually going to play baseball tonight, which would be a delightful change from last evening. … Even though he threw fewer than 40 pitches last night, Francisco Liriano apparently won’t be moved up in the rotation. His next start is scheduled for Sunday night against the Dodgers. Clint Hurdle hinted that Liriano, who recently missed a start with a neck problem, is too important for the Pirates to bring back on short rest, even if his work load was limited last night. “I doubt we will put him in place earlier,” Hurdle said. “It’s a guy three weeks removed from a neck injury.” Hurdle would like to break up the left-handed pitchers in his rotation. Liriano pitched last night, J.A. Happ pitches tonight and Jeff Locke is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. Off days on Thursday and next Monday may allow for such an opportunity. … Locke and A.J. Burnett played catch for a few minutes in left field this afternoon. Of course, Burnett was throwing with his left arm, as he obviously hasn’t been cleared to throw because of his elbow injury. … Hurdle has seen Michael Morse in the batter’s box one time, and it won’t even count as an official at-bat, but the manager liked what he saw. Morse smoked a line drive to deep left for a double against the Cubs last night. The hit didn’t come against a southpaw — Jon Lester had already been removed because of the rain delay, and Morse was in the lineup specifically to face him — but Hurdle isn’t going to use him exclusively against lefties. “Look at the splits,” Hurdle said. “There isn’t a dramatic difference for him against righties or lefties.” In fact, Morse possesses a .279 career average against right-handed pitching and a .271 career average against left-handed pitching. Hurdle loved Morse’s approach in his only at-bat as a Pirate. “That,” he said, “was a good swing.” … Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison again took some infield practice today, something that is becoming the norm. Both are on pace, or possibly ahead of schedule, to return to the lineup. Hurdle acknowledged that it is difficult for him to gauge this team without them. “We’re still playing without two good players,” Hurdle said. “They’ll be back.”
7:13: The J.A. Happ era is underway.
7:35: Cubs 1, Pirates 0: Jorge Soler drew a bases loaded walk against Happ, who needed 30 pitches to escape more trouble. Not looking good early, especially with Arrieta on the mound.
7:47: Brilliant play by Andrew McCutchen. Cut off a ball in the gap with a sliding stop, perfect throw to Jung Ho Kang, and he nails the runner at home. Beautiful baseball.
8:10: Cubs 3, Pirates 0: Happ hasn’t been good. At all. Starlin Castro ripped an RBI double and David Ross followed with a run-scoring single. Happ has permitted three runs and seven hits through three innings, while throwing 75 pitches. Yikes.
8:42: Cubs 4, Pirates 0: Happ’s night is over, thankfully for the Pirates. Not good. Jared Hughes is trying to get out of a jam, but Castro just hit a run-scoring double.
9:12: Cubs 5, Pirates 0: Hughes allows a run. The Pirates have one hit, by the way.
Michael Morse’ gets a second crack at introducing himself to Pittsburgh. — GETTY