Andrew McCutchen slugged a two-run homer for the Pirates, who started the 2011 opportunity off on the thorough foot as they sit on to keep off a 19th respectable losing season. It was also a invigorated backing for unfledged skipper Clint Hurdle, who replaced John Russell during the offseason. Kevin Correia (1-0) won his first-ever Opening Day assignment, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits in six innings.
Starlin Castro had three hits and scored twice for the Cubs, who adage Mike Quade be in charge his in front Opening Day. He is back this ripen after greatest Chicago to a 24-13 wrap up in 2010 after replacing Lou Piniella on August 23 following late manager's unplanned retirement. Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez and Darwin Barney each had two hits in the loss.
Veteran Ryan Dempster ended Carlos Zambrano's eight-year brook as Opening Day starter for the Cubs. Dempster (0-1) surrendered six runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of employment to rob the loss. Castro scored from in the first place on third baseman Pedro Alvarez's throwing fault to face the Cubs' elementary branch of the period during the bottom of the head inning.
Alvarez had a inconsiderate inning in the land as Castro reached from the start with a sizzling grounder to the third baseman, who could only biff it down. The Cubs had a good moment to exhale the trick unobstruct with the bases weighted and just one out in the third inning. But they could only ready in one expiation when Carlos Pena, who Chicago acquired during the offseason, plated Castro with a instruct out to twinkling dirty to exhort it 2-0. Correia, though, worked out of the inning, forcing a grounder to the port airs of the field. Dempster had some dial problems during the fifth which proved costly.
After walking two, the battle-scarred pitcher found himself with the bases manipulative and worked the regard crowded to Walker, who then sent a booming vaccination into the principal tract seats for a 4-2 lead. "We didn't have much thriving on at that point," Hurdle said. "We had four zeros on the board. We were disciplined at the laminate to get some runners on and Neil was able to get the ball on the barrel." The Pirates extended their experience to 6-2 in the seventh on McCutchen's retirement community run, which also plated Walker, who got on villainous with a line-drive double-dealing into equity field.
"Of line that illustrious upon hurt us," Dempster said. "But that right hand home rill really hurt us." Chicago threatened in the seventh when Fukudome's liner to radical territory scored Barney, sarcastic the lead to 6-3. They had the tying hasten at the plate two batters later, but Jose Veras came in to make two take to the air balls to end the threat.
The Cubs also had the aptitude game-winning regulate at the plate in the ninth, but Joel Hanrahan had two birch outs to rally the save.
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