Final
Hammel pitches Cubs past Pirates
Apr 28, 2015 - 5:45 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jason Hammel pitched eight shutout innings and Kris Bryant hit a two-run single to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.Hammel (2-1) bounced back from a loss to Pittsburgh last week to give up just four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Bryant wasn't the only rookie to contribute. Jorge Soler and Addison Russell also chipped in to help the Cubs take the series opener for their third win in a row.
Bryant and Soler had two hits apiece and Russell added one. Soler and Russell both scored a run as Chicago ended Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak, which began with consecutive victories over the Cubs last week.
Vance Worley (2-2) had one of the four hits off Hammel but took the loss, giving up all four Cubs runs in six innings.
"They're talented," Worley said of the Cubs. "It's just about making pitches and keeping them off balance."
Dexter Fowler drew a two-out walk to spark a three-run Cubs rally in the third inning. He went to third on Soler's single and scored the first run on Anthony Rizzo's double.
Bryant followed with a two-run single that dropped softly in right-center field to make it 3-0.
Russell hit a leadoff single in the fifth and eventually scored on Rizzo's base hit for a 4-0 lead.
"We're playing with a lot of energy, having fun and really playing with a purpose," Rizzo said.
That was more than enough for Hammel, who gave up a single to Worley in the third inning and a two-out hit to Neil Walker in the fourth before facing any kind of trouble.
Francisco Cervelli hit a one-out single in the fifth inning and made it to third, but was stranded there. Hammel retired the side in order in each of the next two innings before giving up his fourth hit, a single by Chris Stewart in the eighth. He threw 71 of his 107 pitches for strikes.
Pedro Strop threw a 1-2-3 ninth to finish the game for Chicago.
Game Notes
Worley and Hammel also faced each other last Wednesday, a 4-3 Chicago win ... The Cubs recalled outfielder Junior Lake from Iowa and optioned right-hander Brian Schlitter to the Triple-A team.
- PITTSBURGH: 0
CHICAGO: 4
Final
Apr 27 10:25 PM - Anthony Rizzo singles to second base. Addison Russell scores.
Pirates 0, Cubs 4 Bot 5, 2 OutsApr 27 9:31 PM - Kris Bryant singles to right center field. Anthony Rizzo scores. Jorge Soler scores.
Pirates 0, Cubs 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsApr 27 8:56 PM - Rizzo doubled to center, Fowler scored, Soler to third.
Pirates 0, Cubs 1 Bot 3, 2 OutsApr 27 8:53 PM - Anthony Rizzo doubles to shallow center field. Jorge Soler to third. Dexter Fowler scores.
Pirates 0, Cubs 1 Bot 3, 2 OutsApr 27 8:53 PM - Josh Harrison flies out to right field to Jorge Soler.
Apr 27 8:06 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
CHICAGO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 27 8:06 PM
Related News
- The Pirates Lack of Depth Rears its Ugly Head Mar 3
- Pirates' Minor Leaguers in Spring Training Part 3 Mar 2
- It’s Early, but I’m Growing Concerned about the Pirates On-Field Management Mar 1
- Pirates' Minor Leaguers in Spring Training Part 2 Mar 1
- Pirates Stock Report through First Week of Spring Games Feb 29
- Pirates' Minor Leaguers in Spring Training Feb 28
- Friday Focus: The Pirates' Power Arms, Now and Later Feb 28
- The Pirates' 0-4 Spring Start Means as Much as the Marlins' 4-0 One Feb 26
- Behind the Numbers: Outfielder Edition Feb 26
- How Does Rob Manfred Recover from This? Feb 25
- Pirates' Prospect Spotlight: Spring Training Edition Feb 24
- Pirates Split Squad Drops Both Games Feb 23