Pittsburgh Pirates Series Recap - Punching the Bully

The Pirates finally stood up to their nemesis and won a series against the Chicago Cubs.

Result: Pirates win 8-4

Winning Pitcher: Neftali Feliz (3-0, 2.94ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Jake Arrieta (12-4, 2.68ERA)

Save: Mark Melancon (27, 1.26ERA)

What went right:
- David Freese played very well. He went 2-4 with a home run, one RBI and a run scored.
- Andrew McCutchen looked like himself as he went 3-4 with one RBI.
- The Pirates finally got to Jake Arrieta as he went six innings, allowed six runs on nine hits and struck out six. He looked human for the first time against the Pirates.

What went wrong:
- Miguel Montero was a big bat for the Cubs as he went 1-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
- Anthony Rizzo reached base three times due to a good eye. He went 1-3 with two walks, one RBI and a run scored.
- Juan Nicasio did not pitch particularly well. He allowed a run on one hit in his inning of work.

Result: Pirates win 12-6

Winning Pitcher: Arquimedes Caminero (1-2, 3.38ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Adam Warren (3-2, 5.79ERA)

Save: Jared Hughes (1, 3.34ERA)

What went right:
- His name is Josh Bell and he is here to kick ass and chew bubble gum. Josh Bell provided one of the best moments of the season with a pinch hit grand slam in the fifth inning.
- Andrew McCutchen had a monster game as he went 2-5 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
- Jared Hughes was absolutely incredible in closing out the win. He went three innings, allowed zero runs on three hits and struck out three.

What went wrong:
- Anthony Rizzo was a monster as he went 4-5 with one RBI and a run scored.
- Chad Kuhl looked like a rookie. He lasted only 2.1 innings, allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out one.
- David Freese went 0-4 with two strikeouts and stranded four men on base.

Result: Pirates lose 6-5

Winning Pitcher: Pedro Strop (2-2, 3.18ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Tony Watson (1-3, 3.00ERA)

What went right:
- Andrew McCutchen may not be a huge fan of this All-Star Break as he is starting to heat up. He went 1-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
- Sean Rodriguez ended the first half with a bang, hitting his 10^th home run of the season.
- Jeff Locke looked very good in relief. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowed zero runs on five hits and struck out one.

What went wrong:
- Jon Niese was awful as he couldn’t hold multiple leads. He lasted just 3.2 innings, allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out three.
- Anthony Rizzo was a beast again as he went 4-5 with a run scored.
- Addison Russell went 2-5 with a home run and two RBIs.

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