Pirates end Cubs Win Streak

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Neil Walker, right, leaps to avoid the tag by Chicago Cubs’ Addison Russell during a run down between second and third in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, August 5, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Left-hander Jeff Locke’s strong start fizzled out abruptly after he served up home runs to left-handers Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo in a three-run sixth.

After their sixth consecutive victory Tuesday, the Cubs (58-47) were three games behind the Pirates for the first NL wild card berth. Denorfia singled to center. He ranks 10th in the NL in WHIP (1.09) and went six innings and gave up one run in three of his final five starts for Miami.

Francisco Liriano isn’t likely have his between-starts routine changed.

Pirates (3): “A.J. Burnett, who has allowed 19 runs in his past 16 innings pitched since the All-Star break, landed on the DL and his career could be over if his exam on Monday reveals a torn elbow ligament”.

“The cut fastball played well”, Hurdle said. The right-hander improved to 5-1 in his career against the Pirates.

2014 was Arrieta’s first full season in Chicago, and he didn’t disappoint (except maybe the rest of the National League Central). Of course, the Pirates are a much better team now than they were in 2011, but so are the Cubs.

The Cubs made it 3-0 in the third when Castro hit an RBI double and scored on catcher David Ross’ RBI single.

Rizzo appears primed for another big game as the Cubs face Locke (6-6, 4.21) looking to push their winning streak to seven for the first time since July 31-Aug.

It felt good to back up his words, McCutchen said, and it’s been a satisfying summer so far. In the bottom of the sixth, Cervelli and then Mike Morse singled off Travis Wood, and Polanco brought home a run with a single to right. This is where I want Cubs fans to pay attention, because if you ask them, nearly to a man they will tell you that Aramis Ramirez never came through with two outs (which is not true).

Lester covered 1.2 innings and 31 pitches before the game was postponed due to the weather. “We’ve got to score runs.” – but he certainly wasn’t effective.

Closer Mark Melancon gave up a run in the ninth but held on for his league-leading 34th save. He is 1 for 7 in two games on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee.

“He didn’t want to risk anything and like I’ve always said he’s the manager and he makes the decisions”, Lester said. “I really do. Jon has been there”. When he really understands how to utilize all his weapons, it can get scary.

Chicago tagged Happ (4-7) for eight hits as he walked two and struck out six. Must be nice to have a “down” year that all the sudden includes a. 291 batting average and an OBP around.880. San Francisco is just 1/2 game behind Chicago.