It seemed like the Cubs and Ryan Dempster had this game on cruise control. Through four and 2/3 innings the Cubs had scored two runs off of Kevin Correia. The first was unearned, after Starlin Castro slid dramatically into home on a wild throw by Pirates’ third baseman Pedro Alvarez.
Castro wasn’t the only rookie to have a good day. Darwin Barney, starting at second, went two-for-four with a run scored. Meanwhile, for much of the game, Dempster looked to be in control, retiring the Pirates hitters without much trouble for much of the early game.
Then the fifth inning came and the game turned quickly. With two outs, Dempster allowed a grand slam to Pirates infielder Neil Walker. Though the Cubs would add another run in the seventh inning, the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen saw to it that the lead was insurmountable.
The Cubs will get another crack at the Pirates tomorrow afternoon as Carlos Zambrano starts against Paul Maholm.