Duke Good Again, Gorzelanny and Chicago’s 51st Annual Air Show Good Too, Pirates Not.

Tom Gorzelanny struck out eight Pirates in five innings and allowed only three hits.  The one cool thing in Chicago?  The Chicago Air & Water Show is the largest specator event in the US.  The Pittsburgh Pirates are quickly becoming the worst team in spectator sports as they dropped their 17th game in the last 20.

Gorzelanny got Andrew McCutchen on the very first pitch to fly out.  It was a sign of things to come for this viewer, I spent a lot of time watching the planes.

Lastings Milledge earned a four pitch walk.  (Tim Neveret pointed out that his pants pocket was hanging out as Milledge often does. Thanks Tim.)   

Garrett Jones would continue his recent trend by striking out.  Ryan Doumit hit the first pitch for a ground out to third. 

Inning over.  Cool F16 flies over Wrigley.

A horrible call would lead to the Cubs first run.  The Cubs would have had two runs if not for a great throw from Cutch. (A throw that Steve Pearce seemed to try and cutoff with an ugly stab at the ball?)

After a Steve Pearce single led off the second inning, did you start getting sick as Gorzo set down the Pirates lineup of Ronny Cedeno, Ramon Vazquez, and Luis Cruz?

Rocco tweet…Steve Pearce keeps on reaching base (he’s reached in every start since his recent recall). GFJ keeps on striking out (17 Ks in last 45 PAs).

Jones misplayed a ball into a double. I was even sicker(is that a word?)  later when Gorzo drilled the first pitch past Duke and through the middle for an RBI which made it 2-0 Cubs.

At one time, we were tough defensively. I know I know… we lead the league in fielding percentage with 100 more chances than the Phillies. I’m not buying that stat anymore.

Through three innings Gorzo had five strikeouts… he struck out Duke on a full count, Gorzo then threw a 93mph heater which got Cutch, and another when he elevated a 93 mph heater past Milledge to strikeout the side in the third.

A key play was made in the fourth inning when with one out, Pearce made a great diving catch on Gorzo’s bad bad bunt effort. The play by Pearce kept Sam Fuld at first base. 

Now with two outs, Duke did a great job of keeping Fuld close at first base as Chicago fans cascaded boos (not beer) at Duke. A line drive was stabbed by Vazquez at third for the last out.   Nice play.

Gorzo walked seven and eight hitters. Duke got a bunt base hit when Gorzo picked the ball up on the third base side and threw falling away to first, Duke beat it out.

Bases loaded Pirates.

Cutch got his 34th RBI with a deep flyout to center which scored Vazquez.
Luis Cruz also tagged from second and got to third.

Milledge came up with first and third and one out. And….struckout. GFJ came up having struckout twice in the game. His RISP is awful and Bradley robbed him with a catch at the ivy.

Cruz had a Hines Ward like catch in the fifth. Curious why he doesn’t play more?

Jeff Baker made it 3-1 Cubs with a leadoff homer in the sixth. Duke has allowed 17HR this season. Duke got the next three Cubs in order. The last out on a nice play by Duke as Fuld tried to bunt his way on base.

Steve Pearce stabbed a sure double for an out in seventh. Duke struckout Bradley to end the seventh inning.

When Steve Pearce had an opportunity to drive in the Bucs second run, he stranded Jones to end the seventh inning.

A cool grouping of planes flies over Wrigley.  Was that an F-15?

Duke stayed on to pitch the eighth inning. Derek Lee drove a ball 365 feet that Cutch caught against the ivy for the first out. Aramis Ramirez chased Duke with a pinch hit single. (Ramirez didn’t play yesterday due to a sore throat).

Duke left the game after he threw 113 pitches.   Duke has thrown the fourth most innings in the National League.  He deserves so much better.

Cool plane flies over Wrigley.

Jesse Chavez came on to relieve and quickly got a strikeout of Baker. Chavez got Soriano to fly out to Cedeno to end the eighth. Soriano was booed several times by the Cubs fans who are not pleased with his offense.

Cedeno struck out looking to start the ninth. Vazquez was robbed on a great catch by Fuld who replaced Soriano in left field.

Delwyn Young came on to pinchhit for Cruz. With the Cubbie faithful on their feet cheering, Young who had fouled off several pitches, blasted a 3-2 pitch off the garage door on the left field wall for a two out double.

Pinch hitter Brandon Moss with a 2-2 count and the Cubbie faithful on their feet clapping and cheering, Moss struck out swinging.

I’m an Army guy, but the 51st Annual Air Show was enjoyable, much more so than the Pirates were on this day.

Do yourself a favor and watch this air show of the Bryce Harper Air Show..