CHICAGO -- The Pirates went into the bottom of the fifth Thursday at Wrigley Field with a 2-1 lead and an opportunity. An opportunity to salvage a game in what had been a disastrous series. An opportunity to extend their lead over the Brewers for first place in the National League Central before their weekend series. An opportunity to shove back against a team that has had their number in this ballpark in recent memory.
And then it all unraveled.
That fifth inning ended up being a five-run slog where the Cubs batted around the order, chase multiple Pirate pitchers and propelled themselves to the sweep, as the Pirates lost, 7-2.
"We just have to stay away from the big inning," Derek Shelton said. "We had big innings in all three games this series."
Like the collapses in the bullpen in the four-run seventh inning Tuesday and six-run sixth inning Wednesday, that big fifth inning was just one miscue and bad bounce after another, starting with the game tied at two and one out and rookie Jose Hernandez on the mound:
• Cody Bellinger roped a ball into right field to give the Cubs the lead, but what was perhaps just as important is Josh Palacios could not get to it in time and it would up being a hustle double.
• With no chance at a double-play and runners on second and third, the Pirates had to draw in the infield. Christopher Morel tagged a line drive that Ke'Bryan Hayes was able to get the glove on, but not squeeze it for an out. It would up being an RBI hit.
• Runners on the corners and one out was the right spot for the Cubs to pull off a suicide squeeze. It was successful, but the Pirates had a chance to get Morel at second because he made a hard turn. Tucupita Marcano instinctively tried to make a tag behind him after getting Carlos Santana's throw, but Morel instead had broken for third and took the extra base.
• Finally, Morel would come home whenever Marcano booted a ball for a two out error, making the third pitcher of the inning, Yerry De Los Santos, keep working with the bases loaded.
And don't forget to mix in some walks late for what will be in the mix for one of the Pirates' worst innings of the season.
"They thrive off of walks," Jason Delay said. "The attack plan going in was attacking the strike zone. We kind of got away from that later in the game."
No more runs would end up scoring that inning, but something as simple as keeping Bellinger at first could have drastically changed the complexion of the inning, the game, the series.
Instead, the Pirates now find themselves in a situation they've been in several times already this season, mired in a losing streak with an important series ahead. Their lead for the National League Central is down to just half of a game, and whoever wins this weekend's series against the Brewers will find themselves in first place.
"I think that's something we've been good at over the year," Delay said. "Just not getting too high or low. It's kind of the game of baseball. You're gonna have a good series, you're gonna hot streaks, you're gonna have cold streaks. Just powering through, knowing that it's a long season and we're gonna go through that kind of stuff. Just trying to keep it in the middle."
They're going to need better pitching for that to be possible. The 28 runs the Pirates gave up this series were the most they have allowed in a series all season, with 19 being allowed by the bullpen. Those bullpen runs were primarily surrendered by middle relievers, as the starters failed to get deep into games. After Osvaldo Bido lasted just four innings Wednesday, Johan Oviedo was pulled in that fifth inning debacle, even after he had struck out eight hitters over his first four frames.
"I just gotta be better," Oviedo said. "Gotta give the team a better chance to win the game."
The word "flush" has come up several times after difficult series like this one with the Cubs. It's often easier said than done, and the Pirates are going to need to prove that now. After all, the only other times they were swept were the Rays and Blue Jays series at the start of May, which would go on to be one of the worst months in the team's recent history.
"As soon as we get to our hotels and the sun shines the next day, this game will be out of our mind," Oviedo said. "It’s a little frustrating right now. None of us want to lose this game. But big series coming up. We’re just excited to keep playing the way we’ve been playing. Three games won’t change anything. We just have to give our 100% every time we’re at the field."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 15-day injured list: RHP Colin Holderman (wrist), RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow)
• 60-day injured list: 1B Ji-Man Choi (Achilles), RHP Wil Crowe (shoulder), RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Tucupita Marcano, SS
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Andrew McCutchen, DH
4. Carlos Santana, 1B
5. Jack Suwinski, CF
6. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
7. Josh Palacios, RF
8. Ji Hwan Bae, 2B
9. Jason Delay, C
And for David Ross' Cubs:
1. Mike Tauchman, CF
2. Nico Hoerner, 2B
3. Seiya Suzuki, RF
4. Ian Happ, LF
5. Dansby Swanson, SS
6. Cody Bellinger, 1B
7. Christopher Morel, DH
8. Nick Madrigal, 3B
9. Tucker Barnhart, C
THE SCHEDULE
Off to Milwaukee. The Pirates are heading north to start a three-game weekend series with the Brewers. Rich Hill (6-5, 4.23) will get the ball in game one against Julio Teheran (1-2, 1.48). First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. Eastern. DK is making the trip.
THE MULTIMEDIA
THE CONTENT
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