After getting one-hit in their last game, the Pirates got dominated through six innings by Yu Darvish. They eventually showed a little semblance of offense, but still lost to the Cubs, 6-3.
Darvish had little trouble blowing through the Pirates for six innings. He fanned seven and allowed just two hits, and also a walk to Adam Frazier. The latter was no help, as Frazier got picked off, although it required a Cubs challenge. The hits were singles by Colin Moran, who got stranded at first, and Cole Tucker, who stole second before getting stranded.
Bucs’ starter Trevor Williams didn’t pitch too badly, but did himself in with control problems, not all of them in throwing to the plate. He got through two innings fine, but hurt himself in the third. He gave up a walk and hit batsman, then threw away a good bunt by Javier Baez, letting a run score. In the fourth, Williams gave up a solo home run to Jason Kipnis.
In the fifth, Williams walked the first two batters he faced. Jacob Stallings picked the second one, Anthony Rizzo, off first and Williams got Baez to fly out. Derek Shelton went to Nik Turley at that point, and he walked the first two batters he faced. With the bases loaded, Jason Heyward ripped a two-run single to right.
The Pirates finally made a little dent in the Cubs’ bullpen in the eighth. Gregory Polanco led off with a double for his first hit of the year and Jarrod Dyson grounded a single to right to drive him in. Frazier also singled but Kevin Newman lined out.
The rest of the Pirates’ bullpen wasn’t any better than Turley. Geoff Hartlieb gave up three hits while recording four outs, but he wasn’t scored upon. Miguel Del Pozo was bad again and Dovydas Neverauskas gave up hits to the first two batters he faced, letting two of Del Pozo’s runs score to make it 6-1 after eight.
With a five-run lead, the Cubs sent out Craig Kimbrel, who’s really looking washed up, to pitch the ninth. Josh Bell and Colin Moran led off against him with dingerz, Bell’s first and Moran’s fourth. But Kimbrel managed to get through the next three hitters, although Polanco at least hit the ball hard.
The Pirates are now 2-5. Williams is 0-2.
