The Pirates went into Chicago for a big early season series and stole one Friday with a 2-0 victory over the Cubs despite being no-hit for the first six innings of the game. Neil and I recapped the game and gave away some sandwiches on the NS9 Postgame show that you should check out here. On top of that, here are my three takeaways from the Pirates series-opening win.
Pirates Lose this Game in Previous Years
We’ve seen this show before. Shota Imanaga is cruising and the bats can’t touch him…meanwhile Ian Happ is dropping hits into the outfield and getting on base all game. The Pirates in the past would lose this game no doubt, but not today…not this year. Instead, the Pirates pitching was able to keep the Cubs offense in check and then the bats were able to hit one over the park once the Cubs bullpen hit and they stole a 2-0 win in the opening game in Chicago.
Even on a cold, windy day in Chicago when the Pirates pitching didn’t have the greatest control (seven walks), they battled and keep the Cubs off the scoreboard to give their offense a chance against the Cubs pen. Ryan O’Hearn got the first hit of the game for the Pirates in the 7th inning and then Bryan Reynolds belted a two-run homer to give the Pirates a 2-0 advantage.
Back End of the Bullpen has been Nails
Once Mason Montgomery got out of a shaky situation in the 6th inning with big strikeouts of PCA and then Matt Shaw, it was set up for the back end of the pen. Isaac Mattson did his thing in the 7th, Gregory Soto walked a couple in the 8th but also put up a goose egg and then Dennis Santana struck out two and did what he normally does—shut the opposing lineup down in record time. Santana needed just 13 pitches to go 1-2-3 and close the door on the Cubs with two strikeouts. I wasn’t sure Santana could get any better from last season, but so far, he hasn’t allowed a run through seven appearances now. Him and Soto so far this season has only allowed one run in 15.1 innings. It’s been incredible to watch, and they just keep doing it. The Cubs didn’t have a hit after Mlod exited the game in the sixth as the bullpen shut them down especially the back end of the pen.
Carmen Mlodzinski Looks Like a Capable Starter
Against a tough Cubs lineup on a cold day in Wrigley Field, Carmen Mlodzinski showed why he was given another shot at the rotation out of camp. It wasn’t pretty, but Mlod limited the damage and pitched his way out of trouble for most of the game to not only go finally go five innings, but to pitch into the sixth inning as well. And even after allowing two singles to start the third time through the order, Mlodzinski struck out Seiya Suzuki for a huge first out before being pulled for Montgomery.
I thought it was an encouraging start for Mlod and one where he looked like a capable starter. He’s obviously not Paul Skenes or someone that’s going to go seven but as a 5th starter he doesn’t need to be. And this is coming from someone who believes he’s more valuable to the team as an elite option in the bullpen. I don’t know how this will all play out once Jared Jones returns from the IL, but Mlodzinski is doing what he needs to do to be a capable 5th starter right now.
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