Pittsburgh Pirates edge Chicago Cubs 3-2 in series finale – MLB Update
Pittsburgh Pirates edged Chicago Cubs 3-2 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 25 in the finale of their three match series of the 2012 Major League Baseball regular season.
Neil Walker displayed some top quality hitting skills for the Pirates as he homered to right in the first inning to level the score 1-1. Catcher Michael McKenry also made his presence felt as he added a solo home-run to left in the fifth to keep Pittsburgh
in the game.
Garrett Jones, who had a decent time on the plate in Game 2, continued to impress the skipper as he earned an RBI double to right in the sixth and Alex Presley scored to give the Pirates a much needed win.
Starting pitcher Kevin Correia overcame a shaky start to pitch six solid innings. Overall, he gave up just two runs and four hits to grab his eighth win of the season.
"Kevin is a grinder," Pirates’ second baseman Neil Walker said. "The way he pitched today is the way he always pitches. He doesn't overpower anyone, but he just keeps battling and battling and he gave us a chance to beat a very good pitcher."
"I'm definitely going to think about Atlanta," said Cubs’ starter Dempster, who gave up three runs in six innings with six strike-outs. "I know (Braves GM) Frank Wren from my days in Florida, when he was the assistant GM there. I have a lot of respect for
(manager) Fredi Gonzalez. I don't know what I'm going to do."
The Pirates will be relieved to avoid a humiliating series sweep. Chicago Cubs had prevailed in both the first two games of the series. With momentum on their side, the Cubs were looking to wrap up an impressive series victory on Wednesday afternoon.
Credit should be given the Pirates for showing great determination and fighting spirits to stay within touching distance of the National League Central Division leaders, Cincinnati Reds. It will be interesting to see if Clint Hurdle and his men can sweep
the Houston Astros in their next series to seize one of the playoffs spots.
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