Post by Fish Troll on Apr 30, 2007 21:28:08 GMT -5
Bay's blast caps off Bucs' winning rally
By George Von Benko / Special to MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Lefties Zach Duke and Rich Hill hooked up in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel at PNC Park on Monday night. Neither pitcher was around for the finish as the Pirates defeated the Cubs, 3-2, on the strength of Jason Bay's eighth-inning solo home run.
Bay connected off Cubs right-handed reliever Michael Wuertz. It was Bay's fourth home run of the season, No. 101 for his career and his 100th as a Pirate.
Wuertz suffered the loss, falling to 0-1. Bucs relief pitcher Matt Capps notched the win with one scoreless inning of work and upped his record to 2-0.
The Pirates snapped their two-game losing streak in front of 11,437 fans.
The Pirates got a solid effort from the 24-year-old Duke, who tossed 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits and received his second consecutive no-decision.
Cubs left-hander Hill hurled seven innings and surrendered two runs on six hits and recorded six strikeouts. He got a no-decision.
Duke's first-inning woes continued as Derrek Lee lined a double off the wall in right field. Lee scored on Aramis Ramirez's RBI single to left, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. Duke has now allowed 11 first-inning runs in his last four starts.
The Cubs came up with some two-out lightning in the top of the third inning. Felix Pie singled. Hill then doubled inside the third-base bag, and left fielder Bay made a strong throw to second. The throw eluded second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who was charged with an error allowing Pie to score from third and upping the Cubs' lead to 2-0.
The Pirates broke through against Hill in the bottom of the fourth inning as red-hot Ryan Doumit doubled down the right-field line. With two outs, Adam LaRoche, who was dropped to No. 7 in the batting order, delivered an RBI single, cutting the Cubs' lead to 2-1.
The Pirates got out of a jam in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Duke was replaced by right-hander Jonah Bayliss, who got Ramirez to fly out to left.
Pittsburgh got to Hill again in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jose Bautista drew a walk and came around to score on Ronny Paulino's double to left-center, tying the game at 2.
George Von Benko is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
By George Von Benko / Special to MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Lefties Zach Duke and Rich Hill hooked up in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel at PNC Park on Monday night. Neither pitcher was around for the finish as the Pirates defeated the Cubs, 3-2, on the strength of Jason Bay's eighth-inning solo home run.
Bay connected off Cubs right-handed reliever Michael Wuertz. It was Bay's fourth home run of the season, No. 101 for his career and his 100th as a Pirate.
Wuertz suffered the loss, falling to 0-1. Bucs relief pitcher Matt Capps notched the win with one scoreless inning of work and upped his record to 2-0.
The Pirates snapped their two-game losing streak in front of 11,437 fans.
The Pirates got a solid effort from the 24-year-old Duke, who tossed 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits and received his second consecutive no-decision.
Cubs left-hander Hill hurled seven innings and surrendered two runs on six hits and recorded six strikeouts. He got a no-decision.
Duke's first-inning woes continued as Derrek Lee lined a double off the wall in right field. Lee scored on Aramis Ramirez's RBI single to left, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. Duke has now allowed 11 first-inning runs in his last four starts.
The Cubs came up with some two-out lightning in the top of the third inning. Felix Pie singled. Hill then doubled inside the third-base bag, and left fielder Bay made a strong throw to second. The throw eluded second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who was charged with an error allowing Pie to score from third and upping the Cubs' lead to 2-0.
The Pirates broke through against Hill in the bottom of the fourth inning as red-hot Ryan Doumit doubled down the right-field line. With two outs, Adam LaRoche, who was dropped to No. 7 in the batting order, delivered an RBI single, cutting the Cubs' lead to 2-1.
The Pirates got out of a jam in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Duke was replaced by right-hander Jonah Bayliss, who got Ramirez to fly out to left.
Pittsburgh got to Hill again in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jose Bautista drew a walk and came around to score on Ronny Paulino's double to left-center, tying the game at 2.
George Von Benko is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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