Pittsburgh Pirates: Struggles Against the Cubs Continue, More Takeaways From Being Swept at Wrigley

Jun 14, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez (46) at the
Jun 14, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez (46) at the | Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
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Ian Happ owns his hometown team

Between how loaded the Cubs were in the mid-2010s and now the team being bad in recent seasons, Pittsburgh area native Ian Happ ha sort of flown under-the-radar. He has done anything but fly under-the-radar when playing against the Pirates, though.

It was another big series for the Mt. Lebanon graduate. Happ hit a 3-run home run in the 1st inning of Tuesday night's Pirate loss, then delivered the backbreaking go-ahead 2-run single for the Cubs in Wednesday night's hellacious 6th inning. Thursday night he singled in the first Cub run of the night in the 3rd inning, then in the 5th inning he doubled in a run to tie the game at 2.

He also flashed some leather in the series. With two outs in the 4th inning on Thursday night Happ went full extension to make a diving catch to rob Ji Hwan Bae of extra bases. Yeah, Happ owns his hoemtown club.

Happ has now reached base in 34 straight games (if he gets on base Thursday) against the Pirates. The second longest streak for any player in history against the Bucs. The longest consecutive games on-base streak of all-time against the Bucs? That belongs to Stan Musial. Happ has 20 games to go to reach Musial's mark of 54 games, and that seems more than possible.

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