PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #63
2014 Pittsburgh Pirates (88-74) vs 2016 Chicago White Sox (78-84)
Working under a payroll tens of millions of dollars less then most competing clubs, Clint Hurdle earned 88 wins from this team and a berth in the postseason. Andrew McCutchen was the star of the Bucs and a true five tool player. His gold glove centerfield was in addition to his .410 OBP, 89 runs, and 25 dingers. Starling Marte had 30 steals and was also coming into his own while Neil Walker and Russell Martin both gave above average production from their respective positions of second and catcher. Josh Harrison was one of the better pinch hitters in the league with a .315 clip to his name while other players like Gregory Polanco were slow to live up to the expectations behind their talent. Twenty three year old Gerrit Cole won 11 games and made 22 starts with stuff that would excite anyone. Edison Volquez had the most starts and a good season with an ERA at 3.04. Francisco Liriano could still fool any hitter in the league while Charlie Morton may have not figured it all out yet, but did fill in for 26 good starts for a fourth starter. Mark Melancon was basically unhittable as the closer with a 1.90 ERA with 33 saves and 71 strikeouts in 71 innings. Pittsburgh is not exactly used to having a winner and a superstar on any of their teams during this big money era, but baseball is baseball no matter what you pay, and the Bucs do bring the goods against anyone.
Chris Sale is still the most talented and most standout player on the 2016 White Sox even if his temper may have rubbed many the wrong way. Sale still strikes out over a batter and inning and held a 1.03 WHIP giving the Sox the needed ace in the hole in this series against the Pirates. Carlos Quintana went through a stretch that no matter how well he pitched, he just couldnt get a win. In any case the lefthander is a very versatile starter who gives the Sox innings and weak contact with his 3.20 ERA. The remainder of the Sox arms really struggled as Carlos Rodon dealt with injuries and Mat Latos along with James Shields just simply did not have anything left in the tank. In the pen, David Robertson certainly had good stuff, but he did blow a number of saves and the situations Robin Ventura used him along with other pen arms like Nate Jones could be questioned. Twenty three year old Tim Anderson was just getting his feet wet at short while Todd Frazier was well pas this best at third. The power of the order was in the form of Jose Abreu who drove in 100 runs with 25 long ones. Adam Eaton scored 91 runs and was a menace at the top of the order and Avisail Garcia may have lost favor with this franchise, but was steady enough as the team DH. The Sox are definitely not the favorites here, but with Sale pitching at least two games, they could definately make the job difficult for the favorites Bucs.
Game 1
At PNC Park
Clear 50
2016 White Sox..............4
2014 Pirates...................5
WP: G. Cole (1-0) LP: C. Sale (0-1) S: M. Melancon (1)
HR: A. McCutchen 2 (2), A. Avila (1)
POG: Andrew McCutchen
2014 Pirates lead series 1-0
Alex Avila hit a three run home run in the 3rd inning off Gerrit Cole and behind Chris Sale, it looked like Chicago was well on its way. Andrew McCutchen however hit two home runs in back to back at bats and tied the game at 3 as Cole settled down. A Russell Martin single put the Bucs ahead in the 7th for good and in the 9th Mark Melancon closed the door with the tying run on third when Gregory Polanco made a diving catch in right to end the game.
Game 2 At PNC Park
Partly cloudy 47
2016 White Sox...............5
2014 Pirates....................11
WP: J. Gomez (1-0) LP: J. Quintana (0-1)
HR: A. McCutchen 2 (4), J. Mercer (1), S. Marte (1), M. Cabrera (1)
POG: Andrew McCutchen
2014 Pirates lead series 2-0
Andrew McCutchen hit a grand slam in the second inning off of Carlos Quintana and would add another home run in a 5 RBI performance as Pittsburgh mashed the White Sox. The Pirates superstar has now hit 4 home runs in 2 games and the Bucs as a team knocked around the Sox for 12 hits. Starlin Marte went 2-4 with 2 runs scored and a home run while Jordy Mercer went 3-4. Jeanmar Gomez gets the win in relief of Francisco Liriano who didnt last five.
Game 3 At US Cellular Field
Clear 56
2014 Pirates....................4
2016 White Sox...............2
WP: C. Morton (1-0) LP: C. Rodon (0-1) S: M. Melancon (2)
HR: N. Walker (1)
POG: Charlie Morton
2014 Pirates lead series 3-0
The Sox broke off to an early lead again as Avisail Garcia nailed a two run single in the second inning, but the Pirates would find a way back again. In the 7th inning Pedro Alvarez ripped a two run double to put the Bucs up one and Gaby Sanchez would drive in Alvarez with another hit. Charlie Morton kept his team in it and gets the win as now the Pirates are one win away from the sweep.
Game 4 At US Cellular Field
Clear 51
2014 Pirates...............12
2016 White Sox..........4
WP: E. Volquez (1-0) LP: M. Latos (0-1)
HR: A. McCutchen 2 (6), J. Mercer (2), N. Walker (2)
POG: Andrew McCutchen
The sizzle in the bat of Andrew McCutchen continued as he launched two more home runs, making it 6 in four games, adding 4 more RBI to make it a lucky 13. The 14 Pirates strolled to an easy sweep in Chicago. Five runs in the first two innings against Mat Latos, Jordy Mercer drove in three runs and Edison Volquez had a easy time in this win.
2014 Pittsburgh Pirates Win Series 4-0
Series MVP:
Andrew McCutchen
(10/15, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 7 R, 1.86 SLG)