Things even out in Pirates win

One day after the Pirates choked a game away in the late innings,the Cubs did the same as the Pirates evened the score a bit in a 5-4 win at Wrigley Field.
The two run rally in the ninth off Cubs closer Carlos Marmol allowed the Pirates to win the series 2-1.
Jeff Karstens pitched a scoreless eighth for the win (1-0) and Joel Hanrahan tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save.
The Pirates are in St.Louis tonight,but I have been called to work,so no promises on coverage...
Charlie Morton takes the ball for Pittsburgh with Kyle Lohse on the hill for the Cardinals.

Pirate Hooks

1) Play of the game goes to the hustle shown by Neil Walker for scoring the winning run from second after Pedro Alvarez's lightly hit grounder to short and resulting throw pulled Carlos Pena off the bag.
The off balance first baseman lost a second in getting the throw off and Walker beat the peg to the plate.
Nice hustle by Walker..

2) And credit third base coach Nick Leyva for taking the chance on the play as well.
Those gambles with an undermanned team and the game on the line are exactly the type the Pirates need to try.
They aren't always going to work out,such as in the eighth when Tyler Colvin threw out a tagging Jason Jaramillo at the plate,but no risk,no reward....

3) Ronny Cedeno caught a huge break when he finished the Cubs off on a twin killing,just after Cedeno threw what should have been a game ending double play ball into right field.
In the end,the play meant little,but an example of what makes Cedeno so maddening to watch....

4) Andrew McCutchen was scratched with a stiff neck resulting from a dive on a Carlos Zambrano double on Saturday.
No word on his status for tonight.

5) Mike Crotta pitched a three batter seventh in his big league debut and looked good doing it.
Congratulations to Mike,who deserves his time in the sun...

6) The Pirates struck out 12 times against Matt Garza and slapped 12 singles off the debuting Cub.
Definitely an interesting line.

Photo Credits:AP Photo