Pittsburgh Pirates Need to Put the Hammer Down Now

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a string of ten games with the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros before meeting the Cincinnati Reds on the first weekend of August.

The Cubs and Astros have a combined winning percentage of .379.  The Pirates had a record of 9-1 against these two teams before this string of games started.

So Monday night was not a good time for the Pirates bats to go dormant in the opening game of the home series with the Cubs. Two infields hits were all the Bucs could manage against Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija and closer Carlos Marmol.

Erik Bedard pitched well enough to win on most nights. He gave up only one run and struck out 11 in seven innings of work.  But when the other team pitches a shutout, that won't get it done. The only run the Cubs needed came in the fourth inning when Alfonso Soriano doubled home Starlin Castro. Soriano also doubled in another run later to make the final score 2-0.

The second game of the series could also be a good pitchers' duel. The Bucs will send out James McDonald, who has won his last five decisions, but has labored in his last two starts. The Cubs will go with former Pirates' pitcher Paul Maholm, who has pitched very well and won his last four starts, with a combined ERA less than 1.00.

One loss to the Cubs can be overcome, but the time for the Bucs to put the hammer down is now.

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