Game thread: Pirates at Cubs, 4/3/21

Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) vs. Chicago Cubs (0-1) - Saturday, April 3 @ 2:20 p.m.

Stadium: Wrigley Field, Chicago IL

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Radio: 93.7 The Fan

SB Nation Tigers site: Bleed Cubbie Blue

Starting Pitchers

Pirates: Tyler Anderson - LHP - (0-0) – 0.00 ERA - 0 total Ks

Cubs: Jake Arrieta - RHP - (0-0) – 0.00 ERA – 0 total Ks

Probable Starting Lineups (subject to last-minute changes)

Pirates

1. Adam Frazier – 2B

2. Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B

3. Bryan Reynolds – LF

4. Colin Moran – 1B

5. Kevin Newman – SS

6. Gregory Polanco – RF

7. Jacob Stallings – C

8. Dustin Fowler – CF

9. Tyler Anderson – P

Cubs

1. Willson Contreras – C

2. Kris Bryant – 3B

3 Anthony Rizzo – 1B

4. Javier Baez – SS

5. Joc Pederson – LF

6. Jake Marisnick – CF

7. Jason Heyward – RF

8. David Bote – 2B

9. Jake Arrieta – P

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The Pirates opened the 2021 season with a solid 5-3 win Thursday over the Cubs at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The Bucs got a key hit from rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes – a two-run homer in the first inning – and a pair of clutch two-out knocks from Adam Frazier that each drove in a run.

On the mound, starter Chad Kuhl got off to a shaky start in the first inning, surrendering a run, and gave the Pirates just three innings. But the Bucs’ bullpen came through in a major way, as Duane Underwood Jr., Clay Holmes, Sam Howard and David Bednar all threw scoreless frames at the Cubs.

Chris Stratton gave up a run in the eighth and Richard Rodriguez made things a little too interesting in the ninth, giving up a one-out walk and then uncorking a wild pitch to move the runner to second.

But Rodriguez rebounded to strike out Javier Baez looking and then fanned Jason Heyward on a foul tip that Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings secured.

All told, Pirates pitchers limited the Cubs to just two hits and walked four while striking out 13. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, collected nine hits – two each from Frazier, Stallings and Kevin Newman — and worked 11 walks off eight Chicago pitchers.

Anderson has had mixed success against the Cubs during his big league career. No Cubs hitters have faced Anderson more than nine times; Anthony Rizzo has gone 4-for-9 in his career against the southpaw. Kris Bryant is 3-for-8 while Javier Baez is just 1-for-8.

Two Pirates’ veterans have had their trouble against Cubs starter Jake Arrieta; Frazier is just 3-for-17 and Gregory Polanco is only 5-for-24 but three of those hits have left the ballpark.

Bucs Dugout, this is your game thread. If you’re watching, or if you can’t watch and want the scoop, chat down below!