Walker Blast The Pirates To Victory Over the Cubs
On a cool opening day at Wrigley Field in Chicago, 41,358 fans cheered as the Cubs enjoyed a 2-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cubs starter, Ryan Dempster (0-1 8.10) was cruising along, allowing only two hits in the first four innings. That all changed in the top of the fifth.
Ryan Doumit led off the fifth inning with a single to center, Garrett Jones grounded out to third, Ronny Cedeno walked, Kevin Correia sacrificed Doumit to third and Cedeno to second, Jose Tabata walked, loading the bases for Neil Walker. Walker hit a 3-2 Dempster fastball 406 feet into the right-field seats, putting the Pirates ahead 4-2.
According to Jenifer Langosch MLB.com, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said "It was a big league at bat at the right time."
The Pirates never looked back, defeating the Cubs 6-3.
Pirates stater, Kevin Correia (1-0 3.00), started out a bit shaky allowing two runs on five hits in the first three innings. He settled down enough to earn his first win as a Pirate, going six innings allowing seven hits and two earned runs.
"To get that first win under your belt in the first game is huge," Correia said.
Cubs young super-star shortstop, Starling Castro, enjoyed a fine afternoon, going 3-5 at the plate and scoring two of the Cubs three runs.
Today the Pirates will send left-hander Paul Maholm (0-0 0.00) against the Cubs big right-hander Carlos "Big Z" Zambrano (0-0 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm.
GO BUCS
