One week, to the day, after playing the worst defensive game in Cubs history (12 errors), the Cubbies bounced back with a zero error effort. The week off allowed some banged up players to heal and perform at normal levels.
This game also marked the first game back in a Cubs uniform for Bryce Cutler after the passing of his good friend and father. Bryce played an inspired and emotional game and was the difference in the game for the Cubs offensively and behind the plate. With seemingly an angel on his shoulder, Bryce went 3-4 with a single, double, and triple. He drove in two runs and scored a pair.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the top of the first with two runs on consecutive singles from Joe Burns, Mike Kane, Ron Smaka, and Mike Burns.
Mr. Cutler didn't let them enjoy that feeling long as he led off the bottom of the first with a long triple to right center field and scored when the relay throw to third went wild and out of play (big hit number one).
Andy Hoyle led off the bottom of the third with a single. Bryce followed with a booming double to left that one-hopped over the snow fence at the edge of the woods in left field. Anyone who has ever played at Ravena knows how long of a shot that is (big hit number two). Ron Lochner knocked in Hoyle with an RBI ground out, one out later, to tie the game.
With the game tied at two entering the top of the 5th inning, the Pirates got a bloop double from Mike Clary and singles by Mike Lebanowski and Mark Callahan. With the go ahead run already in and runners on first and third and no outs and the top of the order coming up, Cubs starter Phil Gadomski was in serious trouble. He then dug deep and retired the next three Pirates on two infield pop outs and a fly ball to right.
That was a huge momentum swing and the Cubs took that momentum into the bottom of the fifth.
The Cubs used doubles by Joe Ciccarelli and Andy Hoyle, singles by Ron Lochner and Tom Maney and four Pirate errors to plate 5 runs and take a 7-3 lead and chase Pirates starter Joe Burns.
Given a 4 run cushion, Gadomski retired the last 6 Pirates in order to finish the complete game victory.
The Cubs added an insurance run on a Randy Craft RBI single in the sixth to make the final score 8-3.
TJ Scorsone continued his hot hitting by going 2-3, as did Tom Maney and Andy Hoyle.
The offensive stars for the Pirates were Joe Burns (2 for 3) and Mike Kane (2 for 3).
This ends the season series at one game apiece and has all involved looking forward to seeing each other again some where in the playoffs. Neither team will be an easy out.