Observations: Cub’s drop series on Pirates originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cubs lost 7-1 to the Pirates on Sunday and lost the three-game series 2-1. It was the Cubs’ second series against the Pirates this season. For the first time, the Cubs won the opening week.
With the loss, the Cubs slipped to a 4-5 record.
Here are 10 observations from Sunday’s game:
- Cubs who started pitcher Trevor Williams had a family in the stands for his return to Pittsburgh. Williams spent the first five seasons of his MLB career with the Pirates before signing with the Cubs this winter. His father tweeted his support from PNC Park.
- The Cubs scored their first goal thanks to a home game by Javy Báez. His solo shot in the second inning landed in the “S” of the hedges, in which “PIRATES” is behind the fence of the midfield.
- Baez has a success story against the pirates on this day. Exactly three years ago Baez hit two home runs against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, marking his second two-homer game in a row.
- For the second game in a row, the Pirates put together a second inning rally. It wasn’t as devastating as Saturday’s rally when the Pirates scored seven runs ahead of Zach Davies and forced a pitch change. But they erased the Cubs’ lead and took a 3-1 advantage.
- It looked like the Cubs cut the Pirates’ lead to one run in the third inning after a ground ball hit by Anthony Rizzo. But the pirates challenged Willson Contreras’ slip into the second base. Contreras was charged with foil disruption and the game was counted as a double game at the end of the inning.
- Cubs associate pitching, catching and strategy coach Mike Borzello was thrown in the fourth inning after Pirates pitcher JT Brubaker hit Kris Bryant with the first pitch of the frame. Brubaker had also hit Willson Contreras the inning earlier. The Cubs dugout announced its displeasure after the second pitch hit.
- Pitchers have met Contreras three times this season. Last year he led the league with 14 HBPs.
- Williams’ return to Pittsburgh had no Hollywood ending. The left-handed Rex Brothers replaced him with an out in the fourth inning. Williams allowed five runs with 10 hits.
- For the second time in a row, the Cubs starter failed to make it past the fourth inning.
- The Cubs finished the game with just five hits compared to the Pirates’ 14.
Next Up: On Monday, the Milwaukee Cubs will open a three-game series. Right-handed Adbert Alzolay is supposed to take the hill for the Cubs and Freddy Peralta for the Brewers.
Download
Download MyTeams Today!
Comments are closed.