Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox

Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox

This is Missed It. Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox, Thursday, September 10, 74 and clear at Rate Field, with the Pirates. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a fresh one here in Chicago, Pirates fans. Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago White Sox, and we've got a ballgame ahead of us. The kind of afternoon that makes you want to settle in, grab something cold, and just watch what happens. We're all square at zeroes before a single pitch is thrown, and that's exactly how we like it. Let's play.

Innings 1-3

Top of the first, and we're off. Pittsburgh sends four batters to the plate in the opening frame, and the White Sox starter works through them without giving an inch. No runs, no drama, just a clean inning and we're still tied at nothing. Then Chicago comes up, three batters, three outs, and it's right back to us. Nothing doing on either side, and that's fine. These early innings are about feeling things out, and both teams are feeling each other out just fine. Second inning, same story. We send three men up, three men down, and the scoreboard doesn't budge. Chicago matches us, three up, three down, and we're still knotted at zero. It's the kind of game where you start to wonder who's going to blink first. Neither side wants to, and neither side has yet. Third inning, and we're still grinding. Three more Pirates come to the plate, and three more Pirates head back to the dugout. Still nothing. Then the White Sox get a little something going, four batters in their half of the third, but they can't push anything across either. The inning ends with the scoreboard frozen at zero-zero, and you can feel the tension building. Somebody's going to break through eventually. The only question is who.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and here we go. No outs, bases empty, and Oneil Cruz steps in. He's been waiting for a pitch he can handle, and he gets it. Cruz swings, and the ball jumps off his bat, a fly ball to center field that just keeps carrying. It's gone. Oneil Cruz homers to center, and just like that, we've got the first run of the ballgame. The Pirates lead, one to nothing. The dugout erupts, the bench is up, and we've got ourselves a ballgame. That's what we've been waiting for, folks. That's the breakthrough. Chicago answers in the bottom of the fourth, trying to take the momentum right back. Miguel Vargas leads off with a walk, and suddenly the White Sox have a runner on with nobody out. You can feel the crowd start to stir, the energy shifting. But our guys bear down. The defense tightens, the pitches find their spots, and Chicago can't do a thing with it. Four batters come up, and the inning ends with the score still one to nothing in our favor. That walk could have been the start of something for them, but we slammed the door. Top of the fifth, and we're looking to add on. Two outs, two runners on, and Konnor Griffin comes to the plate with a chance to blow this thing open. The moment's there, the opportunity's there, but Griffin gets under one and flies out to right fielder Braden Montgomery. The inning ends, the runners are stranded, and we're still up one to nothing. It stings a little, leaving those runners out there, but we've still got the lead, and that's what matters. Bottom of the fifth, and Chicago goes quietly. Three batters, three outs, and we're back in the dugout with the one-run lead intact. Then the top of the sixth, and Nick Gonzales steps in with two outs and nobody on. He gets a pitch he likes and drives it, a double to right field, right past Braden Montgomery. Gonzales is standing on second, and we've got a little something cooking. But the next batter can't bring him home, and the inning ends with the score still one to nothing. We're creating chances, just not cashing them in yet. Bottom of the sixth, and Chicago's turn. Three batters, three outs, and the White Sox go down in order. We head to the stretch with a one-run lead, and it feels like we've been in control all afternoon. But one run is a slim margin, and we all know it.

The Stretch

Here we are at the stretch, and it's been a pitcher's duel from the start. The play that turned this half was Oneil Cruz's homer in the top of the fourth, that solo shot to center that finally broke the deadlock. Before that, it was all zeros, both sides trading empty innings like they were afraid to make the first move. Cruz made the move, and we've been holding on ever since. One run is all we've got, and one run is all we need if the pitching keeps this up. But we need more. We need insurance, we need breathing room, and we need to keep Chicago off the board. The lead is ours, but it's fragile, and the rest of this game is about protecting what we've built.

The Sequence

Top of the seventh, and we're still nursing that one-run lead. Three batters come up, three batters go down, and we can't add anything. The score stays one to nothing, and you can feel the weight of every pitch now. This is where games are won and lost. Bottom of the seventh, and Chicago makes a move. Two outs, bases empty, and Colson Montgomery steps in. He swings, and the ball screams off his bat, a sharp line drive to right field. Jake Mangum gives chase, but it's out of reach. Colson Montgomery doubles, and suddenly the White Sox have a runner in scoring position with two outs. The crowd is on its feet, the noise is building, and you can feel the momentum shifting. This is the moment. This is where the game hangs in the balance. But our pitcher reaches back, finds something extra, and gets the next batter to end the inning. The runner is stranded, the lead is intact, and we escape. One to nothing, still ours. Top of the eighth, and we need insurance. One out, a runner on, and who else but Oneil Cruz steps to the plate. He's already got the homer, and now he's got a chance to put this game away. Cruz swings, makes contact, and the ball is on the ground, heading through the infield and into right field. Braden Montgomery fields it, but it's too late. Jared Triolo is coming around third, and he's going to score. Oneil Cruz singles, Jared Triolo scores, and just like that, it's two to nothing. The dugout is up, the lead is doubled, and we've got ourselves some breathing room. That's the big one, folks. That's the one that changes everything. Bottom of the eighth, and Chicago's backs are against the wall. Three batters, three outs, and the White Sox go down without a fight. Two to nothing, and we're three outs away. Top of the ninth, and we can't add any more. Three batters, three outs, and we hand it over to the defense with a two-run lead. This is it. This is the moment we've been waiting for. Bottom of the ninth, and Chicago's last chance. No outs, bases empty, and Randal Grichuk steps in. He swings, and the ball is a sharp line drive to center field. Oneil Cruz is out there, and he tracks it, but it falls in. Randal Grichuk singles, and the White Sox have a baserunner with nobody out. The crowd stirs, the hope flickers, but our guys don't flinch. The next batter, out. The one after that, out. And then the final out, and it's over. The White Sox go down, the runner is stranded, and we've done it.

Wrap-up

Final score, Pittsburgh Pirates two, Chicago White Sox nothing. A shutout, a complete game effort, and a win that feels every bit as good as it should. Oneil Cruz was the story, the homer that broke the tie and the single that sealed it. But this was a team win, top to bottom, pitching, defense, and just enough offense to get the job done. We came into Chicago, we took care of business, and we're heading home with a win. That's all you can ask for, Pirates fans. That's all any of us ever want.

Outro

That was Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox, from the Pirates side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox

This is Missed It. Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox, Thursday, September 10, 74 and clear at Rate Field, with the White Sox. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It is a quiet night on the South Side, and we have the Pittsburgh Pirates in town. The White Sox are home, looking to make some noise, and the Pirates are the ones standing in the way. First pitch is coming up, and we are ready to go. Let's play ball.

Innings 1-3

Top of the first, and the Pirates come to the plate. Four batters step in, and we get through it clean. No runs, no trouble, score stays at nothing to nothing. Bottom of the first, our turn. Three batters, and we are back in the dugout just as quick. No runs, and we are still tied at zero. Top of the second, Pittsburgh again. Three batters, no runs. The scoreboard hasn't moved, and we are still at zero to zero. Bottom of the second, our turn. Three batters, and we can't get anything going either. No runs, still tied. Top of the third, the Pirates are up. Three batters, no runs. We are keeping this one tight, and the score remains zero to zero. Bottom of the third, and we get a little something going. Four batters step in this time, but we can't push a run across. No runs, and we head to the fourth still tied at zero.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and the Pirates are up. No outs, bases empty, and Oneil Cruz steps in. He gets a pitch he likes and sends it on a fly ball to center field. That ball is gone. A home run, and the Pirates take the lead. Oneil Cruz rounds the bases, and it is one to nothing, Pittsburgh. That one stings, folks. We had been matching them pitch for pitch, and now we are chasing the game. Bottom of the fourth, and we need an answer. No outs, bases empty, and Miguel Vargas steps in. He works the count and draws a walk. That is the spark we needed. A runner on first, nobody out, and the crowd is starting to feel it. We have a chance here. But we can't bring him home. Four batters come up, and we leave him stranded. No runs, and we are still down one to nothing. Top of the fifth, the Pirates are back at it. Five batters step in this time, and they threaten. Two outs, two on, and Konnor Griffin comes to the plate. He hits a fly ball to right field, and Braden Montgomery is there to make the catch. Inning over. We escape. No runs, and the score stays one to nothing. Bottom of the fifth, our turn. Three batters, and we are back in the dugout. No runs, and we are still chasing that one run. Top of the sixth, Pittsburgh again. Four batters, and they get a two-out double from Nick Gonzales, a fly ball to right that Braden Montgomery can't bring back. But that is all they get. No runs, and we are still down one to nothing. Bottom of the sixth, we need something. Three batters, and we can't get it done. No runs, and we head to the stretch still trailing one to nothing.

The Stretch

So here we are, folks. One to nothing, and we are the ones chasing. The play that turned this half was Oneil Cruz's home run in the top of the fourth. One swing, and the Pirates had the lead. We have had our chances, a walk here, a double there, but we haven't been able to push a run across. We need to find a way to get something going. The pitching has kept us in this, and now the bats have to answer. We need a rally, and we need it soon.

The Sequence

Top of the seventh, and the Pirates are up. Three batters, no runs. We get out of it, and we are still down one to nothing. Bottom of the seventh, and we need a spark. Two outs, bases empty, and Colson Montgomery steps in. He gets a pitch he can handle and drives it on a sharp line drive to right field. Jake Mangum is out there, but he can't get to it. A double. Colson Montgomery is standing on second base with two outs, and we have life. The crowd is on its feet. But we can't bring him home. Four batters come up, and we leave him stranded. No runs, and we are still down one to nothing. Top of the eighth, and the Pirates are looking to add on. One out, a runner on, and Oneil Cruz is back at the plate. He hits a ground ball to right field, and Braden Montgomery is there. Jared Triolo is running, and he comes around to score. The Pirates add a run, and it is two to nothing. That is the dagger, folks. Oneil Cruz again. He beat us with the bat, and now he beat us with his legs. We are down two, and the clock is ticking. Bottom of the eighth, and we need a miracle. Three batters, and we are back in the dugout. No runs, and we are down two with one inning left. Top of the ninth, the Pirates are up. Three batters, no runs. We get out of it, and now it is our last chance. Bottom of the ninth, and we are down to our final three outs. No outs, bases empty, and Randal Grichuk steps in. He gets a pitch he likes and sends it on a sharp line drive to center field. Oneil Cruz is out there, and he makes the catch. Wait, no, he doesn't. It falls in. A single. Randal Grichuk is on first base, and we have a runner on with nobody out. The crowd is hoping. But we can't do anything with it. Four batters come up, and we can't push a run across. No runs, and the game is over.

Wrap-up

Final score, Pittsburgh two, Chicago White Sox nothing. We came up empty tonight. Oneil Cruz beat us with his bat and his legs, and we couldn't find a way to answer. It is a tough one to swallow, folks. We had our chances, but we couldn't get the big hit when we needed it. We will take this one on the chin and come back tomorrow. That is all for tonight. Good night, South Side.

Outro

That was Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox, from the White Sox side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.