Pittsburgh Pirates righty Charlie Morton has been formidable in his home starts of late and bettors will get another chance to capitalize as he’s expected to take the bump in the finale of a four-game set versus the Chicago Cubs Thursday afternoon.
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Arrieta wound up allowing two runs and six hits in eight innings while striking out five and walking one.
Lester (10-10) walked one and struck out nine while picking up his 12th career complete game. Neil Walker led off the eighth with a single and pinch-runner Pedro Florimon raced to third when Francisco Cervelli’s sharp liner glanced off shortstop Javier Baez’s glove and into shallow right.
Not that he cared much after the Cubs drew within three games of the Pirates for the top spot in the NL wild-card race despite an errant throw to first in the sixth that gifted Pittsburgh a run and a jam in the eighth he couldn’t quite escape unscathed as the Pirates pulled even.
Cubs ace Jon Lester, who was widely perceived as having the yips but only when it came to throwing to first base, picked off a runner for the first time since 2011 on Tuesday. He exited with runners in scoring position and two outs in the sixth. Florimon stole second and sprinted to third when the throw from catcher Miguel Montero rolled into center field.
And if he can pitch this well for the Cubbies in the playoffs (which I am so sure that they’re going to make that I’m not even going to bother with qualifying weasel words), who cares if he can barely throw to first?
In tonight’s game, Arrieta goes for his major league-leading 20th win. After beginning the season poorly, in his past 16 starts Lester has a “2.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 106 strikeouts against 23 walks in 103 innings”, according to CBS Sports.
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Soler was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 24 with a left oblique injury.
