Chicago Cubs name Chris Rusin to start as club hoping for success against Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB
As the Pittsburgh Pirates chalk out a workable plan to avoid a series sweep, the Chicago Cubs have slated Chris Rusin to start Sunday’s final game. The Cubs will have a great opportunity to win a road series for the first time this year.
As much as the opportunity is rare, given the otherwise strong Pittsburgh Pirates, competing against the Cubs to thwart the sweep, Chicago have shown extraordinary performance in the ongoing series.
The amalgamation of strong defence and offence has just strengthened the Cubs and the left-handed Rusin could be instrumental in helping the club realise their dream of winning first road trip this year.
This is Rusin’s third start as a Major League Baseball pitcher. The task is huge, the responsibility on his shoulders bigger considering the fact that the Cubs want a decisive victory in it. The last time Rusin pitched, he allowed no less than five runs and eight hits in just one-plus inning.
That is what he will not want to repeat in the final of the three-game series and that is what the Cubs want him to repeat. The last game still occupies a place in his memory, something he might not be able to obliterate, but try to learn enough not to do again.
"I just didn't keep it down, and when I missed my spots, they capitalized," Rusin said. "They did what they were supposed to do, so I give them credit. This is the big leagues, and you can't miss your spots here, because that will happen."
The Pittsburgh Pirates will bring in left-hander Jeff Locke to avoid the sweep. With two rookies confronting each other in Sunday’s game, the battle will indeed be tough. Pirates have a 14-24 record since July 29, just when they seemed uniquely placed to be a strong contender for the Wild Card.
Nonetheless, Clint Hurdle reposes his confidence in Locke. "He used his fastball very well, he changed speeds," Hurdle said. "He should walk away knowing he did some good things out there."
It will be interesting to see which pitcher succeeds in prevailing on Sunday given the stakes.
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