Some things continued in this game. Kevin Correia continued to pitch well. The Pirates continued to have success on the road. The offense continued to struggle.
Correia chucked it for 7-1/3 innings and gave up no runs. The Pirates picked up their 14th road win on the year. The offense managed just seven hits, but took advantage of two Chicago errors and six walks to push across four runs.
After wasting a pair of hits in the first, the Pirates put two on the board in the second thanks to some faulty defense. Chris Snyder drew a lead off walk from starter Doug Davis. Lyle Overbay singled. Ronny Cedeno’s sac bunt was misplayed by Davis, loading the bases. Correia smacked a grounder to Aramis Ramirez and he bobbled it. Everyone was safe, with Snyder scoring on the play. After Jose Tabata whiffed, Steve Pearce lofted a sac fly to make it 2-0.
It was quiet until the fourth until two walks and a hit batter from Davis loaded the bases. He walked Andrew McCutchen to force in a run. Neil Walker’s infield single scored the fourth and final Pirate run of the game.
Correia cruised until the eighth. He was pulled with one out after allowing a single to Koyie Hill and walking Kosuke Fukudome. Jose Veras relieved and put out the fire.
Joe Beimel made it interesting in the ninth. He walked Carlos Pena and yielded a dinger to Alfonso Soriano. Exit Beimel. Enter Hanrahan. He struck out the next three hitters on twelve pitches to close it out.
Correia gave up four hits in 7-1/3. He walked two and whiffed two. Hanrahan has 14 saves. Davis falls to 0-3. He lasted 4-2/3 and gave up all four runs. Two were earned. He gave up six walks and struck out three.
The Good
Correia
McCutchen had two hits, walked and swiped two bags.
The Bad
The Pirates stranded twelve runners.
The offense managed just seven safeties.
The Rest
The Pirates won for the 14th time on the road after winning just 17 road games last year.
Skipper Clint Hurdle stuck with the Tabata – Pearce – McCutchen top of the order.
This was Davis’ 24th career start against the Pirates. He falls to 8-7 against them. Correia moves to 3-2 against the Wriglies.
McCutchen came into the game hitting a Cobb-esque .367 in Wrigley for his career.
