Pirates fall flat against Cubs, 6-1

March 16, 2012 10:03 pm

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By Paul Meyer / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CHICAGO -- Jim Tracy would love for his young starting pitchers to learn how to pitch in September so that in some season soon -- preferably the next one -- they can pitch in October.

First, though, learning how to pitch in August would be a nice achievement.

Yesterday, Ian Snell, who otherwise pitched effectively, yielded a three-run home run to light-hitting Ronny Cedeno in the fourth inning that pretty much sealed the deal on the Pirates' 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Thus, for the 11th time in 13 rubber games of three-game series this season, the Pirates lost.

"We've been here a number of times," Tracy said of the Pirates splitting the first two games of three-game series. "There has to be an understanding here that games like this make the difference in your season. You win the ballgame, you're one step further along. You lose and you take one step backward. They have to realize that. You have to come in here and want to win."

The Pirates seemed to have the odds in their favor going in.

Snell, with nine victories, is the Pirates' top winner. Cubs starter Rich Hill, who entered with a 7.92 earned run average, certainly could be no match.

But Hill had this on his side -- he's a left-hander. So, naturally, he got the victory, dropping the Pirates to 7-30 when a left-hander starts against them.

This one began slipping away from the Pirates quickly.

In the third inning, Cedeno led off with pop fly into shallow left field. Jason Bay charged the ball hard and tried to make a sliding catch, but it seemed clear immediately he had trapped the ball.

Third base umpire Fieldin Culbreth, however, signaled a catch.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker argued briefly, asking Culbreth to consult with the other three umpires, which he did.

That summit resulted in the play being ruled a no-catch, and Cedeno went to first base -- much like Cincinnati's Adam Dunn did April 6 when Bay also trapped a ball and the umpires correctly ruled it a single after a confab.

"I honestly don't know," Bay said when asked if he'd caught Cedeno's ball. "I just swiped at it. I thought maybe it had gone into my glove and then moved to the web."

"The key is to get the play right and they got it right," Baker said. "From my vantage point, it looked like he trapped it. Bay didn't put up much of an argument. You know whether you've trapped it or caught it."

Cedeno stole second and scored on a two-out single by Cesar Izturis.

Cedeno really proved nettlesome in the fourth inning.

Aramis Ramirez opened with a single to deep shortstop. After Snell struck out Jacque Jones and Angel Pagan, he walked John Mabry, a .221 hitter, on four pitches.

Cedeno, with Hill on deck, was next. Snell went 1-2 on Cedeno, who had three home runs in 368 at-bats this season.

Snell's next pitch appeared to be a strike, but umpire Bill Welke called it a ball.

Snell was stunned.

"I turned around like, 'Wow!' " Snell said. "I thought I had him."

"It was close," Tracy said. "Very close."

Snell, perhaps still unhinged a bit, next threw what Tracy thought was a fastball.

"A couple of breaking balls might have gotten him," Tracy said.

Which is what Snell said he threw.

"I don't throw 87-mile-an-hour fastballs," he said. "It was a flat slider."

Whatever the pitch was, its destination off Cedeno's bat wasn't in question.

It shot into the left-field seats. The Pirates were down, 4-0, and dead in the water.

They put up little argument the rest of the way, save for Ronny Paulino's third home run in three games in the seventh inning.

Snell got through six innings, allowing eight hits, two walks and five runs.

"We had a real opportunity to put down the [fourth] inning, and we didn't," Tracy said. "Beyond that, he did a fine job."

Snell's six innings raised his total to 131 2/3 this season.

"[Zach] Duke and Snell and [Paul] Maholm have a legitimate shot to pitch 200 innings or more," Tracy said. "I'd like to see all three of them get that done so they know what that feels like. So they understand, 'Hey, I have to take a start in the mid to latter part of September and keep going and keep pushing.'

"You're very hopeful that September of 2007 is going to be a very special month for the Pirates."

Jeff Roberson, Associated Press
Jack Wilson was called for batter's interference after the ball hit him for the final out of the game against the Cubs in Chicago. The Cubs won, 6-1.
Click photo for larger image.