The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Chicago Cubs after leading 5-0, with Justin Lawrence taking responsibility for the blown lead. The loss prevented the Pirates from completing a sweep of the Cubs.
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Justin Lawrence
Justin Lawrence Takes Blame For Pirates Blown Loss To Cubs originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates blew a chance to sweep the Chicago Cubs on the road on Sunday.
Pittsburghās pitching allowed just three runs through the first two games, including a 2-0 shutout win in the opener. In the finale, the Pirates led 5-0 early, but the Cubs rallied and scored, eventually tying it in the bottom of the eighth, before walking it off in the bottom of the ninth.
With the Pirates up 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth, reliever Justin Lawrence gave up a two-out single to pinch-hitter Michael Busch. After one run scored, left fielder Bryan Reynolds threw the ball into the infield, but his throw went wide of second base, and Dansby Swanson scored the tying run on an error.
After the Cubs walked off the game in the bottom of the ninth, Lawrence took the blame and felt like he was the reason why the Pirates didnāt pull off the sweep.
āJust frustrated I couldn't get the job done for the team," Lawrence said postgame, via the team website. "It's as simple as that. We're playing really good baseball right now, and now feels like not the first time that I've kind of messed up our momentum. ā¦ It stinks. Should have come out of here with a sweep. I wasn't able to get it done."
Lawrence was credited with a blown save, and itās the fourth straight appearance in which he has surrendered a run.
With the loss, the Pirates fell to 9-6, but remain atop the NL Central. Pittsburgh will return to the field on Monday for a three-game homestead against the Washington Nationals.
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The Pirates lost after leading 5-0, with the Cubs rallying to tie the game in the eighth inning and winning in the ninth.
Justin Lawrence is a reliever for the Pirates who took blame for the team's blown lead in the game against the Cubs.
The Pirates pitched well in the first two games, allowing only three runs and achieving a 2-0 shutout win in the opener.
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