CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates played Wednesday afternoon to finish the three game series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley field. With the series tied the Pirates sent rookie Brad Lincoln to the mound for the start.
Lincoln came into the game still looking for his first win of the season. Lincoln was 0-2 in his starts prior to yesterdayÕs game and had struggled some giving up an average about seven hits and five runs in each of his four starts.
But, Wednesday afternoon something clicked for Brad Lincoln. He allowed just four hits and one walk in seven innings of shutout baseball. Lincoln also struck out six batters, most notable was his clutch strikeout in the fifth inning with runners on second and third to end the inning.
The big difference in todayÕs start was Lincoln was not pitching behind in the counts and walked only one batter in this game. A reason for this could be that Lincoln seems more comfortable with his pitch control and placement giving him a confidence when on the mound. That confidence showed as was not afraid to go after the Cubs better hitters, including Alfonso Soriano who had two homeruns in TuesdayÕs loss for the Pirates.
The Pirates faired no better than the Cubs though the first seven innings, despite hitting slightly better.
The Pirates put together a great fifth inning loading the bases with a combination of good bunting and good patience at batsÕ, but ultimately they came up empty. A strikeout by Bobby Crosby while attempting to bunt the base runners over ultimately cost the Pirates at least a run in the inning.
But the Pirates did break through in the eighth inning. Andy LaRoche reached based on an error by Aramis Ramirez. From there Andrew McCutchen would single to center field to put men on first and second.
Garrett Jones would then double in LaRoche and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
After Ryan Doumit was intentional walked to load the bases, Lasting Milledge patient at the plate would result in a walk and another run.
With score 2-0 the Pirates brought in their bullpen to shut down the Cubs.
Joel Hanarahan struck out two batters during a hitless eighth inning.
Then in the ninth Octavio Dotel came in allowed a single hit before earning his 16th save of this season.
The Pirates will return home for the four game series with interstate rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates split their last meeting, a two game series, with the Phillies in May.
