Pirates Blow Up Cubs Bullpen; Claim Opening Day Win
By Andrew Kovalchuk, MLB.com Journalist, March 31, 2014
CHICAGO- The Chicago Cubs' season start was derailed thanks to a bullpen collapse in this game against the Pirates, which ultimately was a lot closer affair than the 6-1 scoreline would suggest. Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija came into the game with a lot to prove, as trade rumors were circulating about him all last offseason. On the other side, a Pittsburgh franchise boyed by its resurgence last season hoped to continue a rise to greatness.
The Cubs came out strong, as Samardzija fired darts from the get-go, displaying none of the accuracy troubles that sometimes affect him. He retired thirteen out of the first fourteen batters he faced, with the Pirates' sole baserunner coming after rookie third baseman Mike Olt bobbled a Russell Martin grounder. The Cubs offense also struck early, with Ryan Sweeney singling in the first. Later, in the top of the second, the Cubbies would plate their first run when catcher Welington Castillo hit a sacrifice fly to drive Anthony Rizzo home after consecutive singles from Rizzo, Nate Schierholtz, and Olt. Samardzija continued his strong showing, most notably striking out Pirates star Andrew McCutchen twice.
However, after the second inning, Pirates starter Gerrit Cole began to find a rhythm, setting down the Cubs in order in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. In the bottom of the fifth, Samardzija allowed his first hit after the Pirates' catcher Martin tripled to deep left field. The hit was partly caused by Ryan Sweeney, who misplayed the ball in left, allowing it to bounce off the palm of his glove as he attempted to scoop it up. The error would be a costly one. Gaby Sanchez's line drive to left was robbed by a Schierholtz dive, but his effort was not enough to prevent Martin from coming around, tying the game at 1-1. A visibly shaken Samardzija walked the next batter, but regained his composure enough to strike out his opposite number and have a one-two-three sixth, barring an inexplicable ball thrown into the dugout by Darwin Barney on a routine grounder to second.
With the game tied and Samardzija's pitch count approaching 100, manager Rick Renteria pulled him after giving up a double to Buccos second baseman Neil Walker. Righty Blake Parker was the first pitcher to come out of the bullpen, but he promptly gave up a single up the middle to Sanchez, putting the Pirates ahead 2-1. And it only got worse from there. After a Jordy Mercer single and a PH Jose Tabata walk, Starling Marte lined to right, scoring two runners. Parker was then taken out and replaced by lefty James Russell, but he couldn't prevent a Gregory Polanco single down the third base line, scoring Tabata. Thankfully, Russell recovered and got two outs to end the inning, but the score now stood 5-1 Pirates. The next inning, the Cubs put in Pedro Strop to see if he could curb the bleeding. Strop managed to strike out two, but gave up a home run to Walker, effectively putting the game out of reach. On the other side of the ball, reliever Jared Hughes posted two consecutive 0-0-0 innings to secure a Pirates win on Opening Day.
Games 2 and 3 of the series are on April 2nd and 3rd.
Andrew Kovalchuk is a journalist for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ItsAndyK.
| Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Mar 31, 2014 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Chicago (0-0) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh (0-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | X | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Gerrit Cole (1-0) L: Jeff Samardzija (0-1) S: N/A |
| Chicago Cubs |
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | HR | AVG |
| Ruggiano, CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| Sweeney, LF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Castro, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Rizzo, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Schierholtz, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Olt, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Castillo, C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Barney, 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Samardzija, P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Bonifacio, CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| TEAM TOTALS | 30 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | | |
BATTING:
RBI: Castillo (1)
SF: Castillo
SAC: Samardzija
GIDP: Castro, Barney |
FIELDING:
E: Barney (1), Olt (1) |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | HR | AVG |
| Marte, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Polanco, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| McCutchen, CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 |
| Alvarez, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 |
| Walker, 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 |
| Martin, C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Sanchez, 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 |
| Mercer, SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 |
| Cole, P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| Tabata, LF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| TEAM TOTALS | 32 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |
BATTING:
2B: Walker (1)
3B: Martin (1)
HR: Walker (1)
RBI: Marte 2 (2), Walker (1), Sanchez 2 (2), Polanco (1)
SF: Sanchez |
FIELDING:
E: Alvarez (1) |
| Chicago Cubs |
| PITCHERS | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Samardzija (L, 0-1) | 6.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Parker | 0.1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81.00 |
| Villanueva | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Russell | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Strop | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9.00 |
| TEAM TOTALS | 8.0 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
| PITCHERS | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Cole (W, 1-0) | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1.29 |
| Hughes | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |