Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (61-44) vs. Chicago Cubs (58-47), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (6-6, 4.21) vs. RHP Dan Haren (7-7, 3.42)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Update 5:10 p.m.: I’ve asked many Pirates why they struggle so much against their division. I’ve yet to be given a sufficient answer, presumably because they really have no clue. The numbers, I’m sure you’ll agree, are alarming. So far this season, the Pirates are 19-27 against National League Central opponents. This includes records of 6-6 against the Brewers, 5-5 against the Cardinals, 4-7 against the Cubs and 4-9 against the Reds. Consider that, against every other team in baseball, the Pirates are 42-17. This is really a remarkable figure, isn’t it? “I don’t know,” Neil Walker told me recently. “Maybe it’s because they know us so well. But I don’t really have an answer for that at all.” Sure, the other teams in the NL Central know the Pirates well. But shouldn’t the Pirates know them pretty well, also? The Pirates are the only National League playoff contender to possess a losing record against its own division. In fact, most of the contenders for playoff spots own outstanding records against their respective divisional opponents. What does this all mean? It’s tough to say, but one would conclude that the Pirates had better start playing better against their division rivals. It won’t be easy. They still must play six games in St. Louis, three in Chicago, three in Cincinnati, and three games in their favorite stadium, Miller Park. A playoff spot is no given for this team, and another loss to the Cubs, a team that has given them fits all season, won’t help. … Clint Hurdle is going with the same lineup as last night, which means more Aramis Ramirez in the cleanup spot. I’m not counting out Ramirez just yet. History tells us he is a wonderful run producer. But he’s not a kid anymore and, just from watching him in batting practice the past week or so, I’m not seeing much pop in his bat. I’m no scout, of course, and he was ripping the ball before the Pirates acquired him. But I suspect we need to temper expectations for him to some extent. … So, which Jeff Locke shows up tonight? You never really know with Locke, who does dominate in some outings only to frustrate in subsequent appearances. With A.J. Burnett’s status the rest of the season questionable because of his elbow problem, and given what we saw last night from J.A. Happ, it stands to reason that Charlie Morton and Locke must be at their best down the stretch for the Pirates to contend with the Cardinals. Locke has displayed flashes in recent games. As usual with Locke, there is good and bad. He’s allowed three or fewer earned runs in eight of his last nine starts. That’s terrific. But then, you look a little closer, and you see he’s gone only five innings in three of his past five starts. The Pirates’ bullpen is deeper than it has been all season, so it isn’t necessarily a requirement for starters to go deep into games. But Locke needs some more quality outings. Tonight would be a good place to start.
5:17: The Indians just claimed reliever Deolis Guerra off waivers.
7:15: Pirates 1, Cubs 0, 1st: Gregory Polanco goes deep to give the Pirates an immediate lead.
7:30: Pirates 2, Cubs 0, 1st: Great AB from Pedro Alvarez, who drives in a run with a single. But Ramirez is thrown out at home to end the inning.
7:54: Pirates 3, Cubs 0, 3rd: Cutch happens. Andrew McCutchen hits his 16th, a blast to center.
8:06: Pirates 3, Cubs 1, 4th: Pirates killer Anthony Rizzo hits a sac fly to right to get the Cubs on the board.
8:33: Pirates 4, Cubs 1, 5th: Ramirez is given credit for an RBI single – it was more pathetic defense than a hit – and the Pirates get that run right back.
8:41: Pirates 4, Cubs 3, 6th: Kyle Schwarber hits a towering home run to center field, and we’ve got a one-run game. Cutch had it measured but simply ran out of room.
8:43: Pirates 4, Cubs 4, 6th: Rizzo with a bomb to right, and we’re tied. Just like that. Locke is done and has been replaced by Jared Hughes.
9:09: Pirates 5, Cubs 4, 6th: Polanco with a huge run-scoring single to give the Pirates the lead. And give Michael Morse credit. That was a big-time at-bat before Polanco’s hit scored Francisco Cervelli.
9:16: Pirates 6, Cubs 4, 6th: Cutch with a sac fly to right. And he crushed that ball. He appears totally locked in tonight.
10:01: Pirates 7, Cubs 4, 8th: Sean Rodriguez with a run-scoring single that plates Cervelli, who tripled.
PNC Park casts a broad shadow over itself as the sun is setting. -- DEJAN KOVACEVIC
August 5, 2015
Final: Pirates 7, Cubs 5
by Josh Yohe • Game previews
Looking ahead to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (61-44) vs. Chicago Cubs (58-47), 7:07 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (6-6, 4.21) vs. RHP Dan Haren (7-7, 3.42)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes
Update 5:10 p.m.: I’ve asked many Pirates why they struggle so much against their division. I’ve yet to be given a sufficient answer, presumably because they really have no clue. The numbers, I’m sure you’ll agree, are alarming. So far this season, the Pirates are 19-27 against National League Central opponents. This includes records of 6-6 against the Brewers, 5-5 against the Cardinals, 4-7 against the Cubs and 4-9 against the Reds. Consider that, against every other team in baseball, the Pirates are 42-17. This is really a remarkable figure, isn’t it? “I don’t know,” Neil Walker told me recently. “Maybe it’s because they know us so well. But I don’t really have an answer for that at all.” Sure, the other teams in the NL Central know the Pirates well. But shouldn’t the Pirates know them pretty well, also? The Pirates are the only National League playoff contender to possess a losing record against its own division. In fact, most of the contenders for playoff spots own outstanding records against their respective divisional opponents. What does this all mean? It’s tough to say, but one would conclude that the Pirates had better start playing better against their division rivals. It won’t be easy. They still must play six games in St. Louis, three in Chicago, three in Cincinnati, and three games in their favorite stadium, Miller Park. A playoff spot is no given for this team, and another loss to the Cubs, a team that has given them fits all season, won’t help. … Clint Hurdle is going with the same lineup as last night, which means more Aramis Ramirez in the cleanup spot. I’m not counting out Ramirez just yet. History tells us he is a wonderful run producer. But he’s not a kid anymore and, just from watching him in batting practice the past week or so, I’m not seeing much pop in his bat. I’m no scout, of course, and he was ripping the ball before the Pirates acquired him. But I suspect we need to temper expectations for him to some extent. … So, which Jeff Locke shows up tonight? You never really know with Locke, who does dominate in some outings only to frustrate in subsequent appearances. With A.J. Burnett’s status the rest of the season questionable because of his elbow problem, and given what we saw last night from J.A. Happ, it stands to reason that Charlie Morton and Locke must be at their best down the stretch for the Pirates to contend with the Cardinals. Locke has displayed flashes in recent games. As usual with Locke, there is good and bad. He’s allowed three or fewer earned runs in eight of his last nine starts. That’s terrific. But then, you look a little closer, and you see he’s gone only five innings in three of his past five starts. The Pirates’ bullpen is deeper than it has been all season, so it isn’t necessarily a requirement for starters to go deep into games. But Locke needs some more quality outings. Tonight would be a good place to start.
5:17: The Indians just claimed reliever Deolis Guerra off waivers.
7:15: Pirates 1, Cubs 0, 1st: Gregory Polanco goes deep to give the Pirates an immediate lead.
7:30: Pirates 2, Cubs 0, 1st: Great AB from Pedro Alvarez, who drives in a run with a single. But Ramirez is thrown out at home to end the inning.
7:54: Pirates 3, Cubs 0, 3rd: Cutch happens. Andrew McCutchen hits his 16th, a blast to center.
8:06: Pirates 3, Cubs 1, 4th: Pirates killer Anthony Rizzo hits a sac fly to right to get the Cubs on the board.
8:33: Pirates 4, Cubs 1, 5th: Ramirez is given credit for an RBI single – it was more pathetic defense than a hit – and the Pirates get that run right back.
8:41: Pirates 4, Cubs 3, 6th: Kyle Schwarber hits a towering home run to center field, and we’ve got a one-run game. Cutch had it measured but simply ran out of room.
8:43: Pirates 4, Cubs 4, 6th: Rizzo with a bomb to right, and we’re tied. Just like that. Locke is done and has been replaced by Jared Hughes.
9:09: Pirates 5, Cubs 4, 6th: Polanco with a huge run-scoring single to give the Pirates the lead. And give Michael Morse credit. That was a big-time at-bat before Polanco’s hit scored Francisco Cervelli.
9:16: Pirates 6, Cubs 4, 6th: Cutch with a sac fly to right. And he crushed that ball. He appears totally locked in tonight.
10:01: Pirates 7, Cubs 4, 8th: Sean Rodriguez with a run-scoring single that plates Cervelli, who tripled.