Chicago - Paul Maholm started his 2011 campaign in a big way this afternoon in Chicago as he went 8 innings allowing 1 run in the Pirates 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs. Marlon Byrd, a thorn to the side of the Pirates so far this season, was the only blemish on Maholm's outing, as he crushed a 2-1 count to left field and out of Wrigley Field.
The Pirates scoring started early and with some regularity through the first half of the game. Jose Tabata singled on what should have been a routine out; if not for former Pirate Aramis Ramirez bobbling the ball at third. With Neil Walker striking out, Tabata was able to steal second base without much difficulity. Tabata's speed allowed him to score from second base following a Lyle Overbay single to left field.
Fastforward to the third inning, and this game was starting to look like the Jose Tabata Show as he had a lead-off triple in the third inning. Andrew McCutchen proved why is was ranked number 1 in the Top 10 Now list on MLB Network as he smartly laid down a sacrafic bunt, allowing Tabata to score from third and open up a nice lead for Maholm. In the fifth inning, the Jose Tabata Show entered what you could call it's third season. With two outs, Tabata singles to center. Once again, he steals second base, this time in a close call. Neil Walker hits a double to left, scoring Tabata and putting the Pirates up 3-0. Incase you weren't keeping score, thats three runs for Tabata and a RBI for three different Pirates, showing why the work that manager Clint Hurdle focused on this spring was so vital. The Pirates would threaten to score runs several more times throughout the game, but they simply could not come up with the big hit until the top of the ninth inning when Ryan Doumit hit a ball to left center off of Cubs reliever Sean Marshall that made it about 5 rows deep.
All in all, a solid bounce back following yesterday's loss to Ryan Dempster. Tomorrow's match up features Ross "The Rocket Scientist" Ohlendorf vs. Matt Garza. Join us tomorrow on the Pirates WFC Blog for the rubber match predictions.
Prediction v Real World 0-2
Eron McMillen is a contributing writer to the PiratesWFC blog. He can be followed on twitter (@eronmcmillen).
Andrew McCutchen is such a wonder furl players and always perform well in MLB Standings similiar players are also in that team.
ReplyDeleteAndrew McCutchen is such a wonder furl players and always perform well in MLB 2011 similiar players are also there in that team.
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