Cole vs Arrieta
Pirates 6, Cubs 5
The pre-game hype had a classic matchup between dominant aces. Instead we got a game where both starters were mediocre at best. Cy Young candidate Jake Arrieta gave up 4 in 6.2 IP's, while Gerrit Cole (5 ER / 4 IP) couldn't even get through the 5th. With the score 4-1 Bucs Cole gave up 4 hits to start the 5th, with the 4th knock (2 run double) by Anthony Rizzo tied the game. Cole was replaced, but the damage had been done with the Cubbies sporting a 5-4 lead. For the next 2 1/2 innings neither team scored. Heading into the home half of the 8th the Bucs were running out of outs, but a clutch 2 out RBI single by pinch hitter Chris Stewart tied the game at five apiece. In the bottom of the 9th Polanco reached first on a seeing eyed single up the middle. Harrison singled sharply through the 3-4 hole to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen coming to bat. Chicago didn't want "Cutch" to beat them, so they pitched around him. That led to a walk that loaded the bases for Starling Marte. With the bases loaded and nobody out in a tie game the Cubs needed a strikeout and went to Fernando Rodney who ran the count full to Marte. The payoff pitch was low and so were the collective shoulders of Cubs fans across the nation as Polanco walked home for the game winner on a "walk off walk" by Marte.
Pirates 6, Cubs 5
The pre-game hype had a classic matchup between dominant aces. Instead we got a game where both starters were mediocre at best. Cy Young candidate Jake Arrieta gave up 4 in 6.2 IP's, while Gerrit Cole (5 ER / 4 IP) couldn't even get through the 5th. With the score 4-1 Bucs Cole gave up 4 hits to start the 5th, with the 4th knock (2 run double) by Anthony Rizzo tied the game. Cole was replaced, but the damage had been done with the Cubbies sporting a 5-4 lead. For the next 2 1/2 innings neither team scored. Heading into the home half of the 8th the Bucs were running out of outs, but a clutch 2 out RBI single by pinch hitter Chris Stewart tied the game at five apiece. In the bottom of the 9th Polanco reached first on a seeing eyed single up the middle. Harrison singled sharply through the 3-4 hole to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen coming to bat. Chicago didn't want "Cutch" to beat them, so they pitched around him. That led to a walk that loaded the bases for Starling Marte. With the bases loaded and nobody out in a tie game the Cubs needed a strikeout and went to Fernando Rodney who ran the count full to Marte. The payoff pitch was low and so were the collective shoulders of Cubs fans across the nation as Polanco walked home for the game winner on a "walk off walk" by Marte.
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