Pirates leader, Lyle Overbay, Cost Paul Maholm and Pittsburgh A Win At Wrigley
Last season the Pittsburgh Pirates were tied with the Washington Nationals for the most errors in baseball. This spring Pirates third base coach Nick Leyva said Lyle Overbay is the reason the Pirates defense will be better this season.
Well, unfortunately, it was Overbay's eighth inning error that led to the Pirates loss Saturday afternoon to the Chicago Cubs.
Cubs starter,Carlos Zambrano, struggled with his command all afternoon, but was able to keep the Cubs in the game. He left in the seventh with cramping in his right hand.
Prior to the start of the seventh inning he gave up five hits and three runs, retiring 11 of the last 12 he faced.
Pirates starter, Paul Maholm, threw strikes all afternoon and the impatient Cub hitters could do nothing against him. He left in the bottom of the seventh, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and no runs.
Unfortunately for Maholm, the Pirates bullpen could not save the game for him. Evan Meek came on in the eigth and was unusually wild, giving up all five Cub runs.
The damage could have been avoided, except for the very costly Overbay error. With Kosuke Fukedome on third and Starling Castro on second, Marlon Byrd hit a grounded to the usually sure handed Overbay, only Overbay had the ball go off his glove allowing Fukedome to score and Byrd to reach safely.
Aramis Ramirez followed Byrd and flew out to Jose Tabata. Geovianny Soto then hit what would have been an inning ending ground out to second, but because Byrd was on first, Neil Walker was out of position to field it. Castro scored, putting the Cubs within a run.
Carlos Pena popped out to center for the second out. Alfonso Soriano followed with a singled to center tying the game. Chris Resop then replaced Meek and walked Tyler Colvin in a tough at bat. Blake Dewitt, pinch hitting for Sean Marshall, doubled to left putting the Cubs up by what would be the final score, 5-3.
Sean Marshall (1-0 0.0) picked up the win and Carlos Marmol struck out the side for the save. Evan Meek (0-0 10.80) was charged with the loss.
Tomorrow, in the rubber game, the Pirates will send big Ross Ohlendorf (0-0 NA)against newly acquired Cubs starter Matt Garza (0-0 NA). First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 pm.
