Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bae Ji-hwan (24) came in as a pinch hitter with the Pirates trailing by one run late in the game, but was unable to get a hit. Pittsburgh’s bullpen collapsed, and they lost the game. In particular, the Chicago Cubs’ Mike Tuckman, 33, who played for the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO until last season, pounded out three hits to shut down Pittsburgh.
Bae Ji-hwan went 1-for-1 as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth inning of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on July 15. Bae’s season batting average dropped slightly to .270 from .271.스포츠토토
Prior to the game, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton removed Bae from the starting lineup. The decision was made in light of the Chicago Cubs starting left-hander Drew Smyly. As a result, Mark Matz at second base and Zack Swinski in center field were given the opportunity to start.
Bae entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning with his team trailing 6-7. One run was needed. If the quick-footed Bae could get on base, he could tie the game with a squeeze bunt. On the mound stood the Cubs’ third pitcher, Mark Reiter Jr. Bae calmly picked out a low fastball outside the zone. The second pitch, a cutter (146km), was relatively centered, but Bae watched. And the third pitch. A 136-kilometer splitter was aimed directly at the second baseman, but Horner, who was obviously aware of Bae’s quick feet, took the ball out of his glove and threw to first base without delay.
Pittsburgh looked like they were on their way to a comfortable victory early in the game. They scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take control. McCutchen led off with a solo shot to left-center field. Reynolds followed with an RBI single to right-center, and one out later, Santana blasted a two-run shot to left-center. (3-0)
Pittsburgh starting pitcher Osvaldo Vido in action against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, May 15. /AFPBBNews=News1
The Cubs answered right back, led by Mike Tuckman, who spent last season with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO. Tuckman led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on Suzuki’s infield single and came home two batters later on Swanson’s single to left (3-1).
Pittsburgh tacked on another run in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Reynolds led off with a double to left and Santana followed with a single to right.(4-1) In the fourth, Hedges hit a solo shot to left two batters later to make it 5-1.
But in the sixth inning, Pittsburgh exploded for six runs. The Dodgers scored six runs. With the bases loaded, Madrigal drew a walk due to a pitch clock violation by the opposing pitcher (5-2).
The next batter to step up to the plate was Tuckman. On a 2-1 pitch count, Tuckman took four pitches and smashed a two-run double to center field. The score was 5-4, down to one run. With the bases loaded, Happ finally broke the game open with a two-run double to left.(5-6) Two batters later, Swanson followed with a single to left.(5-7)
Mike Tuckman celebrates his two-run double in the sixth inning at Pittsburgh on Friday. /AFPBBNews=News1
Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki high-fives a teammate in the dugout after scoring a run in the sixth inning against Pittsburgh on Friday. /AFPBBNews=News1
Pittsburgh got a run back in the seventh on Santana’s sacrifice fly, but that was it. Instead, the Pirates blew it with a three-run eighth inning. Once again, Tuckman led off the inning with a single to left. Horner followed with a single to right-center to put runners on first and third, and the Cubs capitalized on Suzuki’s RBI double up the middle and Mancini’s RBI single to center two batters later to make it 10-6.
In the end, the Cubs pounded out 13 hits to Pittsburgh’s 12, with Tuckman going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs. In 23 games this season, Tuckman is batting .299 (20-for-67) with eight doubles, 10 RBIs, 16 runs scored, 13 walks, two stolen bases, a .415 on-base percentage and a .343 slugging percentage. Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki also had a solid day, going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs.
Pittsburgh, which has lost two straight, is now 34-32 on the season. They are still in first place in the National League Central. The Cubs, on the other hand, won their second straight game to improve to 30 wins (37 losses) on the season. They are in fourth place in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs (June 15, 38,832 fans in attendance) Starting lineup
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen (designated hitter)-Brian Reynolds (left field)-Conor Jo (right field)-Carlos Santana (first base)-Kevin Hayes (third base)-Jack Swinski (center field)-Rodolfo Castro (shortstop)-Mark Matthias (second base)-Austin Hedges (catcher). Starting pitcher Osvaldo Vido.
- Chicago Cubs: Mike Tuckman (center field)-Nico Horner (second base)-Seiya Suzuki (right field)-Ian Happ (designated hitter)-Dansby Swanson (shortstop)-Christopher Morrell (left field)-Matt Murphy (first base)-Yan Gomes (catcher)-Nick Madrigal (third base). Starting pitcher Drew Smiley.