COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score – Pittsburgh Pirates (18-39) 7 def. Chicago Cubs (32-25) 0

WP: Chad Kuhl (2-3) LP: Alec Mills (5-5) SV: N/A

In one of their most dominant performances of 2020, the Pirates rode four home runs and another strong starting pitching effort to a 7-0 win over the Chicago Cubs Thursday afternoon at PNC Park.  

Pittsburgh’s first, second and third innings each featured solo home runs. Colin Moran got the party started in the first, and Bryan Reynolds followed that up with a blast in the second. In the third, Adam Frazier joined the parade to make it 3-0. Josh Bell put the game away with a two-run blast in the fifth, which put Pittsburgh ahead by six.  

The Bucs start their last series of 2020 tomorrow in Cleveland. First pitch is at 7:10.  

COMON Network Team Commentary

KYLE DAWSON

• The pitchers have been really good for a week now. The offense is starting to pick things up. The painful part of that is that the Pirates may play themselves of having a choice at “the field,” at No. 1 overall. Had they played like this for even two more weeks, they might be in the damn mix. So that’s frustrating, but here we are.
• Chad Kuhl was excellent. Seven innings of two-hit ball and five punchies and 58 strikes of his 98 pitches.
• Colin Moran a perfect day with a homer. Josh Bell a two-run bomb. Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds with homers. Heck everyone in the lineup except John Ryan Murphy had a hit.
• I know everyone hates the Astros, but the way the Bucs are rolling, if the fan base wants No. 1 overall, you have to be Astros fans while they start their four-game set with Texas tonight.

Player of the Game – Chad Kuhl (PIT) and Colin Moran (PIT)

JOE SMELTZER

• Most of the talk surrounding today’s game will be centered around the offense, but Chad Kuhl was also excellent on the mound. He took a no-hitter into the sixth and only allowed two hits over seven innings. As I wrote last night, the Pirates’ starting rotation has been fantastic over the past 10 days, and honestly hasn’t been too shabby overall in 2020. Credit to Oscar Marin for his work.  
• Josh Bell and Bryan Reynolds each showcased their potential today. That hasn’t happened nearly enough in 2020.  If the Pirates are to make progress in 2021, these two have to be more like they were today and less like they were for most of the shortened season.  
• The Rangers are in Houston this week, and the Pirates apparently decided to be good. Hopefully, this doesn’t lead to the Kumar Rocker dream slipping away.  

Player of the Game – Colin Moran (PIT)