by Boutros Boutros Ghali
In the second game of the day/night double header at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA, the Cubs beat the Pirates behind a stellar pitching performance by Johnny Paycheck.
Lester was able to work with a lead, albeit a tiny lead, all game thanks to the Handsome Youngsters getting work done right away against J.A. Happinstuff. The Cubs beat Happinstuff soundly in his first start as a Pirate back on August 4th. In that game the Cubs put up 9 hits and 4 runs to make Happ leave the game early in the fifth inning.
Since that game, Happ has pitched much better. The Cubs got to the Pirates starter early, but it was much more of a struggle in this game as they were only able to score 2 off the starter.
Action Jackson set up the first run with a one out double from the two spot in the lineup. Bryant struck out, but Anthony Rizzo was there to flash a smile and some wood and drive Jackson home.
Rizzo ripped a single into right field to give Jackson the opportunity to run home. The Pirates had shifted on him, but a diving Josh Harrison could not come up with the ball. Cubs get the lead 1-0.
Johnny Paycheck took the mound and is very familiar with owning lots of Bucs (see what I did there) and proceeded to work a masterful nine innings of baseball against a very good team.
Everyone knows the dominance of Arrieta makes him the logical choice to take down the Pirates in the upcoming Play-In game, but Jon Lester showed why he would be a perfectly acceptable alternative in this game. The Pirates earned 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run off of the Cubs secondary ace, but Lester was just too much as he completed nine innings and made an anemic two runs hold up as he struck out nine.
Lester was also able to pick a runner off in this game too. It wasn't quite a pick off play, but Marte jumped and Lester was able to throw over to first (YES, it can be done!) to get Marte in a run down. Rizzo applied the tag and ended the third inning.
Lester was unstoppable, but Happinstuff was pretty dang good only giving up the one run in the first inning and another in the fifth. Old Man Ross looked Forever Young as he knocked a double into right field to get the inning started.
What the old man lacks in speed, he makes up for in well placed feet. Lester laid down a bunt and Happinstuff tried to get the catcher running to third base, but Ross slid into the back of the bag to tag before getting tagged. The play was reviewed, but the guys in New York saw what they saw in Pittsburgh and the call stood.
With Lester and Ross making kissy faces at each other from the corners, Dexter Fowler hit a double off the fence deep into center field. The ball traveled over McCutcheon's head to the warning track and Ross was able to limp home on his old ass knees. Cubs lead 2-0.
(Full disclosure, Ross is almost exactly one year younger than me and would probably out run me any day. That being said, I'm in pretty good shape and will gladly take Ross up on that challenge any day of the week. Bring it on old man.)
Lester did have some help out in the field for this one from a short stop playing third and a third baseman playing right field. In the fourth inning, Baez flashed some pink with a barehanded play to get Morse at first base. It was the third out of the inning and killed the threat on second base.
Bryant gave Lester some glove love in the sixth when McCutcheon hit a ball high up the wall in right field. The youngster is handsome, tall, and showed a little bit of hop in his step as he leaped up and pulled down the out to end the inning in the sixth.
The Pirates did finally get to Lester in the seventh inning. Aramis Ramirez, having himself a bit of a game, hit a single to start the inning. Cervelli, who is hit with more stuff than a cartoon character, was able to follow the Ramirez single with a single of his own.
With runners at the corners, Lester was in trouble. Michael Morse, best known for playing a bowler in the film Bowling for Columbine, was at the plate. The Cubs turned the double play, but Ramirez was able to score to cut the lead in half.
Lester was still a little shaky after taking the DP, and hit the next guy he saw with a ball. Liu Kang was making his way to the plate which prompted a meeting at the mound to discuss how to beat the South Korean.
Bosio said to use Scorpion and push Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start and Liu Kang would be vanquished with no further damage done. All of that and it basically looked like a high fastball. I was totally hoping for a severed head or something.
Lester made short work of the eighth inning and then Maddon had a tough choice to make. With the Cubs only up by one run, should Lester be allowed to bat in the leadoff spot of the ninth. Maddon swings a big dick and went ahead and let his pitcher swing his limp wood out at the plate so that he could attempt to finish out the game on the mound.
Lester did strikeout, but he was able to work a 1-2-3 inning versus McCutcheon, Ramirez, and Cervelli to get the complete game win.
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