Alfonso Soriano’s blitz helps Chicago Cubs complete series sweep against Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB
Alfonso Soriano came up with another blitz on Sunday, September 9, to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2, completing the series sweep at PNC Park. Soriano smashed a two-run go ahead homer to pave the way for majestic victory for the Cubs, the first road sweep since August 1, 2010.
"You have to give these guys a lot of credit after what happened in Washington to come in here and do what they did against a really good team," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said.
The Cubs had entered the series with a poor 31-10 record, having lost their last six consecutive games. However, Sunday saw the Cubs maintaining the poise they had been exhibiting in the last two games and finishing it perfectly here.
The defeat was particularly disturbing for the Pirates which were once a tough contender for the Wild Card.
"We need to play better -- that's it," Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle said. "I'm not going to get up here and point fingers or this and that or say this. I'm telling you how I feel --we've got to play batter. And that's it. And they know that."
But it was Soriano who did the needful, hitting a two-run homer in the eighth just when the score was 2-2, with Pirates desperately trying to avoid the series sweep.
"I'm feeling good at the plate," Soriano said. "That last at bat I just was concentrating and just said to myself, 'Look for a strike,'”
Andrew McCutchen laid a supposedly strong foundation for the Pirates in the first inning with his solo homer against Chris Rusin. Josh Vitters levelled the score in the fourth with his homer to left against Jeff Locke.
Anthony Recker smashed another homer to centre to make it 2-1 for the Cubs which was then levelled by Pirates' Brock Holt in the seventh.
With score levelled, Soriano hit the lead two-run homer in the eighth against Jason Grilli to make it 4-2. The Cubs' bullpen fared better to maintain the lead. Carlos Marmol, coming as the closer, threw a scoreless ninth to finish the game 4-2 for the Cubs, completing the three-game series sweep.
Tags: