A Promising Start
Our Bucs came out strong in the first inning! Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan Reynolds led the charge with back-to-back singles, setting the stage. Nick Gonzales moved them over, and Oneil Cruz drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Then, Connor Joe walked, and Bryan De La Cruz kept the momentum going with a crucial double, scoring Reynolds. The Pirates ended the inning up 2-0 and had PNC Park buzzing with excitement!
The Calm Before the Storm
Our pitching staff was cruising through the Cubs' lineup early. Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ couldn't find answers against our pitchers, and they were sat down with ease. Things looked promising as our bullpen entered the game in the fourth with us still up 2-0.A Rough Fourth Inning
The fourth inning was a nightmare for our Pirates. Despite an outstanding start, the Cubs erupted with a series of hits and homers, including a two-run blast by Seiya Suzuki and a monster shot by Dansby Swanson. By the end of the inning, the Cubs had taken a 5-2 lead.
Falling Further Behind
It went from bad to worse in the fifth. The Cubs piled on with more runs thanks to some defensive miscues and timely hitting. By the time the dust settled, we found ourselves trailing 9-2. This was not what we had hoped for after such a strong start.A Glimmer of Hope
In the bottom of the sixth, Bryan De La Cruz gave us a brief moment of cheer with a towering homer to center field, cutting into the deficit. However, the Cubs still led 9-3, and our bats fell silent again through the seventh and eighth innings.Too Little, Too Late
In the ninth inning, our beloved Pirates showed some life. Bryan Reynolds' walk and Nick Gonzales' double brought in a run each, and Oneil Cruz kept fighting with a single to make it 9-5. But it wasn't enough. Connor Joe struck out swinging, ending the game. Final score: Cubs 9, Pirates 5.
Conclusion
While it’s tough to end up on the losing side, there were bright spots in today's game. Our early offense showed potential, and our players never gave up, fighting till the last out. Let’s regroup and come back stronger in the next game. Let's go Bucs!
Scoreboard for Cubs @ Pirates (August 27th, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 |