By Boutros Boutros Ghali
Today we start with two bits of news in Cub-Land. The first is that the Myrtle Beach Pelicans won their league's championship. Congratulations. I love seeing the Cubs organization continue to put championship trophies in their clubhouses all over the U.S. because someday we hope those championships come to the major league city and those players will know how to get us there.
The second bit of news is that Jake Arrieta did not win last night. To be fair, he did not lose either, but Arrieta has been so dominant for the last couple months, it's actual news if he does not get a "W." The last time he did not earn a victory was July 30th and that was also a no-decision. You have to go back to July 25th to find an actual loss.
Anyway, it was Roberto Clemente Day in the MLB yesterday and the Cubs had the honor of beating Clemente's old team on his day. For those of you out there who do not know why there is a Roberto Clemente Day in the MLB, he was a Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash trying to get medical and food aid to Nicaragua in 1972 following an earthquake.
Anyway, the Cubs had a job to do and despite it taking 12 innings, the Cubs got it done in one of the most exciting games of the year.
Arrieta faced off against A.J. Burnett (apparently the Pirates enjoy having pitchers with those initials) and the two pitchers were locked in a duel until the sixth inning. The Cubs finally broke through when Rizzo put down his only hit of the game to get on base with one out.
Anthony Rizzo has been quiet on the base paths since early in the season, but he can still run. He reminded the Pirates of that with a stolen base while Kris Bryant was batting.
With a runner in scoring position, Bryant bounced a ball off the outfield wall for a double. Rizzo scored easily and the Cubs took the lead. Burnett was on the ropes and the Cubs continued to apply pressure.
Montero followed the double with a single to put runners at the corners with one out and the Original Youngster heading to the plate. Burnett was starting to lose it so Clint Hurdle made the call to the bullpen and pulled his starter.
John Hughes came in to face Starlin Castro, but Starlin is some kind of wonderful and was able to put down the squeeze bunt to score another run. The squeeze bunt was a surprise, but Hughes was able to field the ball cleanly. Unfortunately for the Pirates, Aramis Ramirez playing first base was not able to do the same.
Castro put down a beautiful bunt towards first base to give Bryant the room he needed to run home. Bryant was streaking home (fully clothed so I guess technically he was just running and not streaking) and without a play at first, Hughes tried to get the out at first. Castro was respecting 90 as he ran to first while Hughes was making a Matt Garza throw to first. Even though Ramirez bobbled the bad throw, he was able to catch it but Castro was already safe by the time he got a handle on it. Cubs 2-Pirates 0.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Ghost of Matt Garza returned and the Pirates were finally able to get on the board against Arrieta, due to Arrieta's error. With two outs in the inning and Polanco on second base, Starling (not Starlin) Marte hit a bouncer right back at the pitcher. Arrieta fielded the ball cleanly but Garza'd the throw over 6'3" Anthony Rizzo's head to allow Polanco to score from second base.
Luckily for the Cubs, the Pirates are lazy assholes when they run to first base if they think they are going to get out. Marte loafed it down to first once he saw Arrieta field the ball, so Rizzo was able to go after the passed ball and throw Marte out at second base on the play. So, instead of having a runner in scoring position and facing McCutchen, Arrieta was out of the inning.
Clint Hurdle started using his relievers like there was no tomorrow, but the Cubs stuck with Arrieta (probably to their detriment) through the eighth inning. With a one run lead and runners at second and third with two outs, Joe Maddon opted to stick with Arrieta batting in the eighth instead of pulling him for a pinch hitter who might have had a better shot at driving in an insurance run(s).
I guess even Maddon is scared to go to the bullpen. Anyway, Arrieta struck out, the Cubs left two Runners In Scoring Position and then gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game.
Arrieta gave up a single Neil Walker to lead off the 8th inning. The Bucs lifted Walker (because he walks and that is not fast) for pinch runner Pedro Flo-rida. Cervelli singled too and Flo went to third on the play.
Jordy Mercer hit the ball to Javier Baez and the Handsome Youngster got hot with a 95 mph strike to Montero from short stop. Montero was in good position and tagged Florimon out. The Pirates challenged the play, but it was ultimately upheld and the Cubs maintained their 1 run lead a little longer.
The Pirates scored again during a wild double play by the Cubs off of a Polanco hit to second base. With runners at first and second, Castro fielded the slow bouncer. Pedro Alvarez stopped between first and second. Castro made the throw to Rizzo for the out and Rizzo threw to Baez who now had to make the tag to get Alvarez.
Sean Rodriguez scored from third on the initial slow bouncer. While the Cubs had Alvarez in a rundown between first and second, Josh Harrison attempted to also run home. Baez saw him running and threw to Montero to get the runner at home. Montero threw to Bryant at third and Bryant was able to make the tag after Rodriguez fell down. Cubs 2-Pirates 2.
It was a wild play that you really have to see to understand. Unfortunately, MLB.TV messed up the video link and if you click on this play, it shows you Bryce Harper's 40th home run, which, let's face it, is lame considering the Nationals suck now.
So the game is tied and Arrieta gets the no decision as Maddon sits him for the ninth inning. Hurdle put Melancon out on the mound in the 9th inning for some reason and burned his ace closer in a non-save situation. The Cubs opted for Hat Tilt Strop.
Strop gave up a single to Marte and then McCutchen popped out. Then Aramis Ramirez shot a ball right up the middle for what should have been a single, but Castro made an amazing dive to grab the ball. He flipped to Baez, who threw to Rizzo for the easy double play because Ramirez was being a lazy asshole running down the line.
Remember when the Cubs used to do that dumb shit? Ramirez was on those teams. Good to see he's kept that loafing as part of his game with the Pirates.
Again, I'd love to provide a link to the video of this amazing play, but MLB.TV is now stuck on some weird loop that shows an old video of Jung Ho Kang getting hurt in some earlier game. Every link on the page now brings that up. So weird.
Anyway, Castro saved the day and the Cubs went on to extra innings in Pittsburgh.
Leprechaun Rodney pitched the 10th and then Rondon entered in the 11th when the Cubs had a more favorable matchup. Rondon went 1-2-3 and returned the game to the Handsome Youngsters.
Now 3 relievers away from their ace closer, the Pirates were ripe for the beating in the 12th inning. The Norf Sider led off the 11th inning with a single. Maddon pulled Deno for Quintin Berry who was put on the expanded roster for this specific situation. He's fast.
Vance Worley threw one away as he was pitching to Action Jackson and Berry was in at second base easily. Jackson hit a single and Berry moved to third. Anthony Rizzo came up to bat with runners at the corner and no outs.
Rizzo put the bat on the ball and lifted a light liner out to left center field. Marte was able to record the out, but had to slide to make the play. Quintin Berry trotted home and the Cubs once more had the lead. Bryant and Ross could not make anything more happen, but Rondon returned to make sure the 3-2 lead held up.
I'm sure Clint Hurdle wished he'd saved his closer for a spot where he could actually make a difference in the game, but he didn't. Joe Maddon did and Hector Rondon was able to lock down the Cubs 84th win of the season by going through the heart of the Pirates lineup.
That's your Reckless Recap. Go Cubs!