Live-Blogging: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs 07/31/2020

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs 07/31/2020

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball’. Tonight, it is Pittsburgh Pirates taking on Chicago Cubs.

With all of the postponements of games and series going on along with what Manfred has told MLBPA about stopping the season, this could be the only live blog of an MLB regular season I could be doing.

Pirates come in with a record of 2-4, while Cubs come in with a record of 4-2.

Tonight’s Starting Pitchers are a pair of righties. Trevor Williams goes for the Pirates and Yu Darvish goes for the Cubs.

It is Pittsburgh Pirates take on Chicago Cubs, coming up shortly.

Starting Lineups:
Pittsburgh Pirates (2-4:
1. Adam Frazier, 2B
2. Kevin Newman, SS
3. Josh Bell, 1B
4. Colin Moran, 3B
5. Bryan Reynolds, LF
6. Gregory Polanco, DH
7. Cole Tucker, RF
8. Jacob Stallings, C
9. Jarrod Dyson, CF


Chicago Cubs (4-2):
1. Kris Bryant, 3B
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
3. Javier Baez, SS
4. Kyle Schwarber, LF
5. Willson Contreras, DH
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Victor Caratini, C
8. Jason Kipnis, 2B
9. Ian Happ, CF

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Frazier
2. Newman 
3. Bell
Yu Darvish (RHP) now starting as Cubs Pitcher.
MLB Scores:
First Pitch around 7:16 p.m. CDT.
Frazier draws a lead-off walk. Runner on 1st.
Wind is blowing into home plate at 20 mph, according to Marquee Sports Network. 
MANAGER'S CHALLENGE: Ross challenging call at first base. Frazier is safe at first, on pickoff attempt by Darvish. Call overturned. Frazier is out at first. 1 out.
Newman flies out to Happ. 2 outs.
Bell grounds out to Baez. 3 outs.
Pirates go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

Middle of 1st Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Bryant
2. Rizzo
3. Baez
Trevor Williams (RHP) now starting as Pirates Pitcher.
Bryant lines out to Dyson. 1 out.
​Rizzo strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Despite Marlins Outbreak; MLB had 0.2 % positive rate for COVID-19. 
Baez grounds out to Newman. 3 outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning. 

End of 1st Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 0

Top of 2nd Inning: 
Due Up:
4. Moran
5. Reynolds
6. Polanco 
Darvish currently at 16 pitches.
​Moran singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Reynolds strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Polanco strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Tucker grounds out to Rizzo, unassisted. 3 outs.
Pirates strand a base runner. 

Middle of 2nd Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 0

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Schwarber
5. Contreras
6. Heyward
Williams currently at 13 pitches.
Schwarber flies out to Dyson. 1 out.
Contreras strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Heyward extends the inning, with a 2-out single. Runner on 1st.
Caratini singles to center field. Heyward advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Kipinis strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Cubs strand a pair of base runners.

End of 2nd Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 0

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Stallings
9. Dyson
1. Frazier, 0-0
Darvish currently at 30 pitches.
​Stallings grounds out to Baez. 1 out.
Dyson flies out to Schwarber. 2 outs.
Frazier flies out to Schwarber. 3 outs.
Pirates go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
9. Happ
1. Bryant, 0-1
2. Rizzo, 0-1
Williams currently at 38 pitches.
Happ strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Bryant draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Rizzo gets hit by a pitch. Bryant advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PIRATES MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: PIT 4, CHC 5
Baez bunt singles to pitcher's mound advances to 2nd on a throwing error by Wiliams. Bryant scores. Rizzo advances to 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. PIT 0, CHC 1
Schwarber strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Contreras strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Cubs get a run, off an error by Trevor Williams.

End of 3rd Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 1

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Newman, 0-1
3. Bell, 0-1
4. Moran, 1-1
Darvish currently at 44 pitches.
Newman strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Bell strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Moran gets called out on strikes. 3 outs.
Darvish strikes out the side. 

Middle of 4th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 1

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Heyward, 1-1
7. Caratini, 1-1
8. Kipnis, 0-1
Williams currently at 60 pitches.
MLB Scores:
Heyward grounds out to Frazier. 1 out.
Caratini flies out to Tucker. 2 outs.
HOME RUN: Kipnis hits a home run off Williams. PIT 0, CHC 2
​Happ grounds out to Bell. Bell to Williams. 3 outs.
Cubs get a run, off a solo home run by Jason Kipnis.

End of 4th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 2

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Reynolds, 0-1
6. Polanco, 0-1
7. Tucker, 0-1
Darvish still pitching for Cubs. 
​Reynolds flies out to Heyward. 1 out.
Polanco strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Tucker singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
STOLEN BASE: With Stallings at-bat, Tucker steals 2nd Base. 
CUBS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: PIT 4, CHC 4
Stallings grounds out to Baez. 3 outs.
Pirates strand a base runner.

Middle of 5th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 2

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Bryant, 0-1
2. Rizzo, 0-1
3. Baez, 1-2
Williams currently at 72 pitches.
​Bryant draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Nik Turley (LHP) warming up in Pirates Bullpen.
Rizzo draws a base on balls. Bryant advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PIRATES MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: PIT 3, CHC 4
With Baez at-bat, Rizzo gets caught stealing by Stallings at first. Stallings to Bell. 1 out.
Baez flies out to Tucker. 2 outs.
PITCHING CHANGE: Nik Turley (LHP) replaces Trevor Williams, as Pirates Pitcher. Runner on 2nd. 2 outs. PIT 0, CHC 2
Schwarber draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Contreras draws a bases loaded walk. Bases Loaded.
2-RUN-SINGLE: Heyward hits a 2-run single to right field. Bryant and Schwarber score. Contreras advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. PIT 0, CHC 4
Caratini strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Cubs get 2 runs, off a single by Jason Heyward. 

End of 5th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 4

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Dyson, 0-1
1. Frazier, 0-1
2. Newman, 0-2
Darvish currently at 75 pitches.
Dyson grounds out to Darvish. 1 out.
Frazier strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Newman grounds out off Darvish to Baez to Rizzo. 1-6-3. 3 outs.
Pirates go down 1-2-3, in their half of 6th Inning. 

Middle of 6th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 4

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Kipnis, 1-2, HR, RBI
9. Happ, 0-2
1. Bryant, 0-1
PITCHING CHANGE: Geoff Hartlieb (RHP) replaces Nik Turley, as Pirates Pitcher.
Kipnis singles to left center field. Runner on 1st.
Happ singles to right field. Kipnis advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Bryant reaches into 6-5 fielder's choice. Kipnis is out at 3rd. Happ moves to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Rizzo flies out to Tucker at the warning track. Happ advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Baez grounds out to Newman. 3 outs.
Cubs strand a pair of base runners.

End of 6th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 4

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Bell, 0-2
4. Moran, 1-2
5. Reynolds, 0-2
Kyle Ryan (LHP) replaces Yu Darvish, as Cubs Pitcher.
MLB Scores:
Bell flies out to Heyward. 1 out.
Moran flies out to Schwarber. 2 outs.
Reynolds grounds out to Ryan. 3 outs.
Pirates go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

Middle of 7th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 4

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Schwarber, 0-2
5. Contreras, 0-2
6. Heyward, 2-3
Hartlieb currently at 18 pitches.
Schwarber grounds out to Newman. 1 out.
Contreras doubles to center field. Runner on 2nd.
​PITCHING CHANGE: Miguel Del Pozo (LHP) replaces Geoff Hartlieb, as Pirates Pitcher.
Heyward grounds out to Bell. Bell to Del Pozo. 2 outs.
Caratini grounds out to Moran. 3 outs.
Cubs strand a base runner. 

End of 7th Inning:
PIT 0, CHC 4

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Polanco, 0-2
7. Tucker, 1-2
8. Stallings, 0-2
​Ryan currently at 14 pitches.
Rowan Wick (RHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen.
Polanco doubles to right field. Runner on 2nd. 
PITCHING CHANGE: Rowan Wick (RHP) replaces Kyle Ryan, as Cubs Pitcher.
​DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Albert Almora, Jr. replaces Kyle Schwarber at center field. Ian Happ moves from center to left field. 
Tucker strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Stallings flies out to Almora, Jr. 2 outs.
RBI-SINGLE: Dyson hits an RBI-Single scoring Polanco. PIT 1, CHC 4
Frazier singles to left field. Dyson advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. 
Newman flies out to Heyward. 3 outs.
Pirates score one, but left two base runners.

Middle of 8th Inning:
PIT 1, CHC 4

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Kipnis, 2-3, HR, RBI
9. Happ, 1-3
1. Bryant, 0-2
​Del Pozo currently at 17 pitches.
Craig Kimbrel (RHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen.
Kipnis draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
PIRATES MOUND VISIT #3: MVR: PIT 2, CHC 4
PINCH-RUNNING: Nico Hoerner pinch-running for Jason Kipnis.
Happ singles to center field. Hoerner advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Dovyadas Neverauskas (RHP) replaces Miguel Del Pozo, as Pirates Pitcher.
​Bryant singles to left field. Hoerner and Happ move 90 feet. Bases Loaded.
2-RUN-SINGLE: Rizzo hits a 2-run single scoring Hoerner and Happ. Bryant advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. PIT 1, CHC 6
Baez hits into 1-2 rundown fielder's choice. Bryant is out at 3rd. Rizzo moves to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PIRATES MOUND VISIT #4: MVR: PIT 1, CHC 4
Almora draws a base on balls. Bases Loaded.
DOUBLE PLAY: Contreras grounds into 6-4-3 double play. 3 outs.
Cubs score 2 runs, in their half of 8th Inning.

End of 8th Inning:
PIT 1, CHC 6

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Bell, 0-3
4. Moran, 1-3
5. Reynolds, 0-3
PITCHING CHANGE: Craig Kimbrel (RHP) replaces Rowan Wick, as Cubs Pitcher.
HOME RUN: Bell hits a solo home run down right field line. PIT 2, CHC 6
HOME RUN: Moran hits a solo home run to left field. Back-to-Back home runs for the Pirates. PIT 3, CHC 6
Jeremy Jeffress (RHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen.
Reynolds grounds out to Hoerner. 1 out.
Polanco flies out to Almora at the warning track. 2 outs.
Tucker grounds out to Hoerner. 3 outs.
Pirates hit back-to-back home runs. 
The Game is over.

Final:
PIT 3, CHC 6
PIT: (2-5)
CHC: (5-2)
W: Darvish (1-1)
L: Williams (0-2) 
PoG: Darvish (CHC) W, 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 7 K, BB
ToG: 3:45

Final Thoughts:
A long game tonight. Cubs needed a throwing error by Trevor Williams to take the lead and never relinquished it, even with Kimbrel giving up back-to-back home runs to Bell and Moran. Darvish was outstanding, while Williams was not the same after that error in the Bottom of 3rd Inning.

Pirates and Cubs will play again tomorrow. Mitch Keller will go for Pirates. While Tyler Chatwood will go for the Cubs. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.