The Chicago Cubs look to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
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Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo (44) watches his three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 14, 2016, in Chicago.
“It’s just not against us, it’s everybody, ” Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli said of Arrieta. “Last year this division was insane, and I don’t think this year will be any different”.
Not only do the Chicago Cubs have themselves a nine-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, they are undefeated against the Bucs to begin the year.
In the American League West, Texas moved within half a game of the lead when Drew Stubbs homered in the 10th inning to lift the Rangers over Toronto. Heyward singled on a dribbler to second and Kris Bryant walked on a close call on a full-count pitch before Rizzo connected for his 11th homer. With that said, Locke’s performance certainly didn’t help matters.
Rizzo went 0 for 3, ending the majors’ longest active streak of reaching base at 26 games.
PHOENIX – Buster Posey hit a two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning and Hunter Pence homered in San Francisco’s victory over Arizona.
“Everybody participates, but for me it always comes down to starting pitching”, Maddon said. That was more than enough for Hammel (5-0), who struck out a season-best 8 over 62/3 innings, giving up 1 earned run and 8 hits.
Arrieta yielded three hits and struck out 11 to win his 18th consecutive regular-season decision.
“My point is that (Locke is) suggesting Jake suggesting Jake always knows where the ball is going”, Maddon said Sunday. “It’s very unusual what [Arrieta’s] doing”. Rizzo drove in the final run with a single up the middle.
The Pittsburgh Pirates could use a win after losing seven of their last 10 games.
Ortiz also hit a solo home run and an RBI triple – his first three-bagger since 2013 and the 19th of his career – while Xander Bogaerts, Travis Shaw and Mookie Betts each drove in a run for the Red Sox. Andrew McCutchen (.261, 24 Rs, 8 HRs, 16 RBIs, 1 SB) has been hitting the ball well for the Pirates, going 3 for 5 yesterday with one run, one home run, and two RBIs.
“We’ve just been playing some good baseball”. “Other than that we did a nice job of keeping them off base and definitely got in a little bit of a rhythm there for a little while”.
“I really don’t care what he was doing”.
Locke also served up Russell’s fourth homer with one out in the sixth and then hit Miguel Montero before he was replaced by Jared Hughes. Home-plate umpire Brian Knight warned both benches.
“I don’t see where he could feel there is any intent on that pitch”.
Pittsburgh has dropped eight of 11 since its 15-9 start. Ellsbury missed seven games before appearing in centre field in the eighth inning Saturday after straining a right hip muscle on May 6. The Pirates had won all but two of his previous 23 starts and Liriano was 4-1 in his last five starts at Wrigley Field.
Astros RHP Chris Devenski (0-2, 1.72) hopes to get better run support in his fourth major league start.
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The win improved the Cubs’ run differential to +110 (213-103) and against the Pirates, it’s +26 in five games (37-11), which means the average victory by the Cubs this year over the Pirates is 7-2.
