WHEW! It took 12 innings, but the Cubs took down the Pirates.
If not for the win, the story of this game clearly would have been the Cubs’ failure to bring home runners on base. The Cubs left an almost-criminal 12 runners on base in this one (after leaving 9 on base last night), and seemingly couldn’t get the big hit when they needed it. It also doesn’t help that they haven’t homered in 34 innings. They had so many long outs, and Kyle Schwarber hit a foul ball that went about 800 feet. So, I promise, a lot of this is just flukey stuff.
In the end, the Cubs got the runs they needed to win, including the game-winner on an Anthony Rizzo sac fly after Chris Denorfia had singled and then pinch runner Quintin Berry got himself to third on a not-so-wild pitch and an Austin Jackson single.
Jake Arrieta was fantastic, and the only runs he allowed came (1) after he airmailed a throw to first on a come-backer, and (2) on a crazy 4-3-6-2-5-2 double play, or something like that. Thereafter, the bullpen was equally good, keeping the Pirates off the board, and giving the Cubs a chance to win despite the earlier missed opportunities.