Afternoon baseball in Wrigley featuring two teams in bad shape. No place I would have rather been. The Pirates continued their domination of the Cubs behind the arm of Brad Lincoln.
Lincoln was pitted against former Pirate starter Tom Gorzelanny. Both pitched well. Lincoln went seven and allowed three singles, one double and no walks while preventing the Cubs from scoring. He struck out a career best six. Gorzy was lifted after five, but he also had a shutout on four singles and three walks.
Gorzy was pulled for a pinch hitter with runners on second and third and two out in the Cubs fifth. But pinch hitter Tyler Colvin was whiffed to end the threat. The Pirates broke through in the 8th off of Andrew Cashner with help from the Cubs defense. Former Buc Aramis Ramirez muffed a one out grounder from Andy Laroche. Andrew McCutchen followed with a single. Garrett Jones doubled off the wall to score LaRoche. Ryan Doumit was IBB to load the bases. But Sean Marshall came on to whiff Pedro Alvarez. Lastings Milledge worked the count and drew a walk, forcing in the second and final run. Ronny Cedeno grounded out to end the inning.
Joel Hanrahan pitched a perfect 8th and Octavio Dotel worked a scoreless 9th for the save.
The Good
Taking two of three on the road.
Pirate pitchers have given up just three earned runs in the last four games.
The Bad
The offense remains punchless. Just enough today.
Bucs have scored two or fewer runs 33 times and are 6-27 in such games.
The Rest
In four career starts coming into the game, Lincoln had only struck out eight.
This was Gorzy’s fourth appearance and third start against his old team.
Ronny Cedeno is 1-23 with no walks over his last seven starts.
Andy LaRoche has one RBI in 51 at bats in June.
