Cubs vs. Pirates Preview + Betting Angle

[Shame About Ray]

MLB Betting - Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Cubs increased their winning streak to four games last night at PNC Park after Felix Pie wrapped a bases loaded single to plate two in the top of the 15th inning. SportsBook bettors should note that recently called up Sean Marshall took the ball in the bottom of the inning and notched his first career save in the big leagues. The sports betting community will have noticed the game had a number of story lines, but the biggest one had to be the effort Ryan Dempster put forth in his second start of the season. He was simply untouchable going seven strong innings giving up one hit and no earned runs while striking out five and walking two. Lou Piniella begrudgingly decided to turn to his pen in the eighth inning only to see Kerry Wood give up Pirate slugger Jason Bay’s first home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth to tie it up. Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez launched a two-run bomb in the top of the 14th, but the Pirates answered in the bottom of the inning when Adam Laroche snapped an 0-for-25 slide by belting a no doubter into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the inning. The Cubs bullpen has thrown 17 1/3rd innings its L/3 games, while the Pirates pen has tossed 19 2/3rds innings its L/3. Looking to give each of their pens a break this evening will be the Cubs Rich Hill and the Pirates Matt Morris.

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