Put two teams on the field that are struggling offensively and you get a fast game with little production. That was the case this evening:

— 2cd inning Pirates had a man on 2cd and no outs. Typically that man will score 61% of the time. He didn’t score tonight.. nor did he even make it to 3B. In fact, even though it was a leadoff double, only 2 other batters came to plate after the hit because Craig was doubled off the bag on a Burnitz line drive double play.

— Cubs had the bases loaded in the 4th and no outs. Typically the man on 3B scores 86% of the time. But not tonight.. Mabry lined in to a double play and Marshall K’d.

— Pirates had Jack at 2B with no outs in the 7th and another 61% chance of scoring. He finally scored but only because the 2B ump didn’t see him run 5′ out of the base path to avoid a tag on a ground ball hit to 3B Ramirez. Jack should have been called out.

— Pirates had Paulino and Castillo on base for Duffy in the 8th and yet another 61% chance to score a run from 2B with no outs and Duffy K’s.. then Sanchez hit a weak fly ball.. then Jack hit a little grounder. No runs scored. And, once again, no runners advanced.

The Cubs only had a man on second one time in three innings. Two of those they scored a run on. They were clutch – they won the game.

The Pirates had the same shot – three times and scored once. No clutch – no win.

Jim Tracy refused to play small ball from the second inning on and it cost him this game:

* Craig led off the 2cd with a double and Randa should have bunted him over. If he had, that would have gotten the third man up to bat in the inning. Plus, the odds of a man scoring from 2B with no outs is 61%, but with 1 out and a man at 3B it climbs to 68%. Bad move Tracy.

When Tracy did implement small ball, he used the team’s worst bunter in Duffy with no outs and men at 1st and 2cd. Remember now, Duffy was on the pine tonight because he can’t hit left hand pitching that well. Plus, he only had one sac bunt all last year and none this year. Further, he has yet to get a good bunt down all year, albeit he was lucky once the ball stayed fair. He is not a good bunter. Freddy Sanchez, however, can put the ball in play so why Tracy sent Duffy to the plate and not Sanchez is anyone’s guess, especially since it was the 7th inning.

Ho-hum.. Pirates have been out scored 30 – 7 now in the first inning. How boring. Maybe Tracy needs to do a Pinella and open games with Gonzo?

Pirates are now 0-6 in one run games on the road. That really hurts.

Here’s a great quote from the Cub’s Comcast announcer Bob Brenly:

"Either the Pirates don’t have video replay equipment in their clubhouse or they aren’t using it."

Brenly was talking about the inability of the Pirates to figure out AA pitcher Marshall since he pitched two games against them in less than 3 weeks and they hadn’t made one adjustment. How sad is that? But don’t take it too hard, the Cubs didn’t look like they figured out Santos any better than the Pirates did Marshall. In fact, probably less, considering how much video is out on Santos. Yet Brenly was right on the money. Marshall is very hittable until you get behind the count on him and he tosses that devastating hook.

Kudos to Santos and Marshall – they both pitched good games even though both teams are as flat as it gets. And kudos to Jose for his first hit in I don’t know how long. The fact he hit it the other way was very impressive for him.

Thumbs down to Jack Wilson who gave this game to the Cubs on the two ground balls he seemed to intentionally miscue on in the 8th. Maybe the team wanted some bed rest before they play the early game tomorrow? Probably more like the team wanted to party before leaving Chicago tomorrow. LoL.