RIGHTY FALLS SHORT IN
7-INNING DUEL WITH FELLOW HS ALUM HAMELS
The Pirates' scoreless streak reached 23 innings in
frustrating fashion on Friday night, when a pitcher's best friend turned into
the Bucs' worst enemy as they lost their second straight 1-0 decision to the
Cubs at PNC Park.
The Pirates hit into a franchise-record-tying seven double
plays -- also tying the MLB mark for a nine-inning game, according to the Elias
Sports Bureau -- including six that ended innings. The Bucs have dropped five
straight games, tying their longest losing streak of the season, and 13 of
their last 21 to fall below .500 for the first time since July 15.
The Pirates haven't scored since the fourth inning of their
6-4 loss to the Twins on Wednesday afternoon, and they've put up only nine runs
during this five-game skid. They out-hit the Cubs on Friday, 7-6, but their
historic double-play output negated those efforts and another brilliant start
by Trevor
Williams.
Unfortunately for the Pirates, only double plays seemed to
be contagious after a nearly two-hour rain delay. Veteran lefty Cole Hamels did
not overpower Pittsburgh, recording only three strikeouts in seven innings, but
over and over again, he forced the Bucs to put the ball on the ground in key
situations.
David Freese finished
the first inning with a double-play grounder to third baseman Javier Baez, and he
bounced into a game-ender against right-hander Jesse Chavez. Josh Bell hit
into two double plays. Dickerson and Gregory
Polanco grounded into one each. Pinch-hitter Adam Frazier lined
into a double play to end the eighth, too, as pinch-runner Kevin Newman was
ruled out at first base after diving back to the bag.
The Cubs' consecutive combined shutouts spoiled a pair of
excellent starts by Pittsburgh pitchers. On Thursday night, Ivan Nova's efficient
outing went to waste. On Friday, Williams was on the wrong end of the pitchers'
duel.
The only run Williams allowed came in the second inning,
when Kyle
Schwarber launched a high fastball into the right-field
seats. But Williams allowed no further damage, due in part to his precise
fastball location all over the strike zone. As Nova did on Thursday, Williams
mixed high four-seam fastballs with sinkers down in the zone to keep the Cubs
off-balance.
Williams' strong start continued an excellent run in which
he has allowed only three runs in 36 innings over his last six starts, lowering
his ERA to 3.53. But he couldn't single-handedly end the Pirates' losing
streak.
SOUND SMART
The Pirates are the fourth team since at least 1908 to lose back-to-back 1-0
games in which a solo homer proved to be the difference each time. You don't
have to look too far back to find the last instance, however. The Giants beat
the Dodgers, 1-0, on a pair of Joe Panik homers
on March 29-30.
• The Pirates last hit into seven double plays in a 7-5,
10-inning win over the Cardinals on June 16, 1994. They also grounded into six
double plays in that game and hit into their final double play on a sacrifice
fly.
TRAINER’S ROOM
CUBS: LHP Mike
Montgomery (left shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 10-day DL and RHP
Tyler Chatwood will move from the bullpen to start in his place Saturday night.
LHP Randy Rosario was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Montgomery’s roster
spot. … RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis/right shoulder impingement)
will make a rehab start Sunday for Class A South Bend. He last pitched for
Chicago on May 20. … 3B Kris Bryant (left shoulder inflammation) has started
soft tosses but there is no timetable for his return.
PIRATES: RHP Chad
Kuhl (right forearm strain) played catch for the first time since being injured
June 26 in a start against the Mets at New York.
UP NEXT
CUBS: Chatwood
(4-5, 5.06 ERA) made 19 starts before being shifted to relief in early August.
He has issued a major league-high 90 walks in 99 2/3 innings.
PIRATES: RHP Joe
Musgrove (4-7, 3.49) is 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts since the All-Star
break.
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