Game 133 Recap-
After destroying Pirates pitchers most of the season, the 1st place Chicago Cubs used fundamentals and execution to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates,2-0 Wednesday at PNC Park in Pennsylvania. Chicago rode 2 7th inning runs from a ground out and suicide squeeze to the seres sweeping win, while veteran RH Jason Marquis(9-7,4.52) was brilliant over 7 innings(95 pitches), allowing 5 hits and no runs while K-ing 3. The Cubs went 14-4 for the year vs the black and yellow, more importantly, the Pirates have now lost a season high 7 in a row and 11 of 13.
Pirates LH Zach Duke(4-13,5.14) pitched great and deserved better. Over 8 innings, he allowed only 7 hits and the 2 runs while striking out 6 and walking 2. The 7th inning did him in as CF Reed Johnson bunted his way on and red hot RF-2b Mark Derosa doubled to start the frame. 2b Ronny Cedeno’s ground out to 3rd scoring the 1st run and backup C Henry Blanco’s perfectly executed squeeze plated the 2nd.”I thought it was going to go out [foul],” Blanco said. “It stayed in and everything was good and I got an RBI. Once again, we’ve got to do the little things.”
The Pirates could do little all day vs Marquis, premier RH power arms Carlos Marmol(2.71, 25 holds) and closer Kerry Wood(2.63,27 saves) both struck out 2 batters in their inning of work. This series was about the Cubs, to me, the best team in the NL. They can play anytime of game and look and sound like a World Series bound club. “That’s the sign of a good team, one that can win in different ways,” Reed Johnson said. “We’ve been able to win the last couple of weeks by sitting back and swinging the bat. Today we weren’t swinging the bats very well, so we were able to play a little bit different game and it ended up working out for us.”
Star of the Game-
Marquis- Part of the depth of what I believe is the best pitching staff in the NL
Pirates Notes-
Team is close to 82 loses(76), when they do it will be a ML record 16 consecutive losing seasons… club was shut out for the 5th time this season… Duke is winless in his last nine games vs the Cubs, he has 4 wins at home but has lost his last 6 decisions at PNC Park.. C Raul Chavez had 2 hits
Next Game-
Team is off Thursday, start a 3 game series vs the Milwaukee Brewers Friday at PNC Park
