Pittsburgh Pirates: Regular season results – MLB August 2011 - Part 1
After suffering a series sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates were hoping to get things back on track with strong and consistent performances in the month of August 2011.
Losing three consecutive games, their poor run had also damaged their win-loss record to 54-52. Clint Hurdle and his men aimed to bring improvement in certain areas of their game play to yield positive results in their next four match series with Chicago
Cubs.
However, the Pirates failed to fulfill their promises and they suffered another embarrassing 4-0 series sweep, which dented their confidence levels.
The NL Central team was very disappointed with the outcome of the series after all the hard work they had put in to get things going for them in the Major League. In game one, the Pirates wasted too many opportunities to let their opponents take a
1-0 lead in the series.
Carlos Zambrano was absolutely brilliant for the Cubs as he picked up his 13th
win of the season to lift Chicago to a 5-3 win over the Pirates. The right hand starter struck-out five and walked three as he gave up only seven hits.
"I did what I was supposed to do. Personally I feel like I've been throwing the ball good," Zambrano said. "I was able to battle and pitch six innings."
"It was sickening is what it was -- weird has got nothing to do with it," Chicago’s manager Mike Quade said. "We've all watched him long enough and have so much respect for him, we know he's capable of that. Just wish he'd save that stuff for someone
else."
The Pirates looked out of sorts in game two of the series as well and they took an 11-6 hammering to let the Cubs take a 2-0 lead in the series. Unable to execute their game plan, the Pirates dominated in almost all aspects of the game.
Alfonso Soriano hit two of the six home-runs and Chicago had 21 hits to floor the declining Pirates 11-6. Garrett Jones was also outstanding as he hit two towering home-runs and drove in four runs.
"We haven't seen an outburst like that in a while, it was just great," Cubs’ manager Mike Quade said.
With momentum on their side, the Cubs dominated the Pirates in game three to take a decisive 3-0 lead in the series. Matt Garza pitched seven shut-out innings and Starlin Castro hit the solo home-run to lift the Cubs to a narrow 1-0 win over the Pirates.
The Pirates looked short of confidence in the fourth and final game as well and the Cubs took advantage to complete a memorable series sweep.
Continued in Part 2
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