Jeff Samardjiza was just too good, pitching eight brilliant innings allowing just one infield hit to Andrew McCutchen and striking out five. The Cubs got the one run they needed in the fourth on an Alfonso Soriano double that scored Starlin Castro, who walked. Those two would do the same thing in the ninth for an insurance run that they wouldn't actually need.
The good news was that Erik Bedard had one of his best outings of the year. He pitched seven innings, allowed just two hits and one run while striking out 11 and walking two. Bedard looked like the guy we saw in April, and that's a huge lift for the squad moving forward. Chris Resop gave up a hit and a run in his one plus innings of work and Tony Watson and Evan Meek got three outs to end the ninth. Josh Harrison had the other Pirate hit, it was also of the infield variety.
Not a great way to start a series with a very bad team, but you can't win them all. Two more games with the Cubs at home before traveling to Houston, and the Pirates would be well served winning both of them. James McDonald goes tomorrow against the red hot Paul Maholm.