OSS: Despite a heroic performance by Starlin Castro, the Cubs give a winnable game to the Pirates (again).
Three Up
1. How could it not be Starlin Castro? A three-run dinger in the 3rd tied it up, and a and a 6th-inning dinger brought the Cubs within 1. All told, Castro went 3-4, 4 RBI, 2 R. It was his first career multi-HR game and probably the best game of his career so far.
Also, this: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_04_08_pitmlb_chnmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=31923591&tcid=vpp_copy_31923591
2. Emilio Bonifacio game into the game hitting .500 and improved his batting average with a 3-5, SB outing. He now leads the planet in SB with 5.
3. A to the Rizzo singled Bonifacio in during the 7th inning to bring the game to a 6-6 tie, adding another single and a walk. Rizzo’s line stands at .296/.406/.407; he is second among offensive players in Team WARP.
Three Down
1. Edwin Jackson had a bad game, and there’s no sugar-coating it. It’s true that pitchers don’t have much control over their BABIP, but the Pirates were banging doubles and triples on meatball pitches (4 XBH in the first few innings). He walked 4 and struck 4 out, and didn’t last past the 5th.
2. Pedro Strop did a Marmol impression, taking the loss. If we’re completely honest, give partial credit to…
3. James Russell, who inexplicably walked Pedro Alvarez to load the bases, and then gave up the sac fly. All told, the Cubs walked the bases loaded in the 8th inning, allowing the Pirates to score a run without recording a hit in the frame.
Quick Hits
The Cubs struck out 8 times and only walked once…Cubs went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and only Valbuena/Kalish failed to convert with 2 outs…Castro leads the team with 6 RBI…Welington Castillo‘s .374 OPS is half of what it was last year.
Next Up
Jason Hammel vs. Wandy Rodriguez, 7:05pm CT
Ticket price on Stubhub: $6