Pirates Trounched by Cubs in Front of Sellout Crowd
· Yahoo Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates started a crucial homestand with the Chicago Cubs by losing a game they should have won.
Nobody can make that argument for the middle game of the series.
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The Pirates lost to the Cubs 11-0 before a sellout crowd at PNC Park, dropping their record to one game above .500.
Neither team scored through the first three innings.
The Cubs had the best chance in the top of the third, putting runners at the corners with nobody out and the top of the order coming up.
But Skenes struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki looking, then got Michael Busch to fly out to center and end the threat.
Chciago finally broke through in the top of the fifth when PCA doubled home Dansby Swanson for the game’s first run. One batter later, Suzuki singled home two more to make it 3-0.
Skenes left the game with two on and one out in the sixth. His final line was five earned runs over 5.1 IP, with six hits, two walks, and hit batter and 11 strikeouts, which tied a career high.
The last two runs came in off reliever Isaac Mattson, who entered the game with runners on first and second and one out.
Chicago added three more off Mattson to make it 8-0 and put the game to bed.
Cubs’ starter Shota Imanaga didn’t need anywhere near the runs that he got.
The Pirates could do little against the lefty, who pitched six shutout innings, allowing four hits and walking just one.
Pittsburgh will look to avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon at 1:35. Braxton Ashcraft (9-4, 3.95 ERA) will take on Jameson Taillon (2-5, 5.38 ERA).
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