Black- and Whitelist » homer in the eighth inning

CHICAGO - The hard-hit grounder went right to shortstop Starlin Castro, and he made a strong throw to first. It was just too late to get Gregory Polanco. The play proved costly when Josh Harrison followed with a two-run homer, sending Castro and the Chicago Cubs to a rain-delayed 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night. "It was a bad bounce," Castro said. "I had to turn around. It was really hard, too, and the guy run pretty hard from home plate, thats why I didnt get him." Jordy Mercer went deep for the second straight day and Andrew McCutchen had a tiebreaking RBI single for Pittsburgh, which had lost four of five. Vance Worley (1-0) pitched into the seventh inning for his first win with the Pirates. Harrisons fifth homer with two out in the seventh made it 5-2 and came after Polanco was the beneficiary of baseballs replay system. He was originally called out by umpire James Hoye in a close play at first after he hustled down the line on his sharp grounder. "The play was a hard-hit ball to Starlin, who came up slower than he probably should have," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "Polanco is busting his rear end down the line." The review also extended Polancos hit streak to 11 games, making him the first NL player to begin his major league career with such a streak since Juan Pierre hit in 16 straight games for Colorado in 2000. "He looked safe, so you go out and you have your people run the replay," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "As sure as you are, you dont know until you know. It turned out to play very big for us." Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer for Chicago, which had won four of five. Eli Whiteside doubled home Darwin Barney in the seventh. "The guys keep battling, they keep playing," Renteria said. The start of the game was delayed for 2 hours, 1 minute while a storm passed through the area. Rizzos 15th homer, a drive to the bleachers in right in the fourth, gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead. The big first baseman, making a case for a spot on the NL All-Star team, is batting .318 (27 for 85) with seven homers and 19 RBIs in his last 23 games. Pittsburgh responded in the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Harrison and McCutchen each singled back up the middle to put the Pirates back in front. Brian Schlitter then replaced Travis Wood with runners on the corners and retired Russell Martin on a bouncer to third for the final out. Wood (7-6) allowed four hits, walked three and struck out four. The left-hander had won each of his last two starts, including a season-high eight innings of three-hit ball in a 3-0 victory at Philadelphia in his previous outing. "We got a little wild for a little bit, brought the ball up a little bit where they could find some holes and put some runs on the board," Wood said. Worley gave up three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. The righty, who was acquired in a March 25 trade with Minnesota, pitched seven shutout innings in his first start of the season last Sunday at Miami. "Used all his pitches, pounded the strike zone, gave us a real good effort," Hurdle said. Jared Hughes got the final out of the seventh, Tony Watson tossed a perfect eighth and Mark Melancon struck out the side for his 11th save in 14 chances. It was Melancons first opportunity since Hurdle announced on Friday he was removing struggling righty Jason Grilli from the closer role. The Pirates played without speedy outfielder Starling Marte, who left the team to attend to a personal matter in his native Dominican Republic. Jose Tabata got the start in left and went 0 for 3 with a walk. Hurdle said he thinks Marte will be back in time for Monday nights game at Tampa Bay. NOTES: Cubs C Welington Castillo (rib injury) went 1 for 5 and drove in a run in his first rehab game with Triple-A Iowa on Friday. "Felt good, and he continues to progress," Renteria said before Saturdays game. ... Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (6-4, 3.02 ERA) faces RHP Brandon Cumpton (2-2, 5.82 ERA) in the series finale on Sunday. Bob Dernier Jersey . Blatter, a 75-year-old Swiss executive who has been in office since 1998, was handed a final four-year term as head of footballs governing body in a vote at FIFAs congress. He won 186 votes out of 203 ballots. Rod Beck Jersey .During the week, McCoy told reporters he respected Hoyer for his intelligence, athleticism and how he conducts himself on and off the field. This wasnt an act, some attempt at psyching out Hoyer. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1250t-danny-hu...ersey-cubs.html. -- Two out of three aint bad. Shawon Dunston Cubs Jersey . The 29-year-old Mills started three games for Oakland this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.41 earned-run average. He opened the season appearing in 14 games and making 12 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers triple-A affiliate in Nashville, posting a 4-2 record with a 1. Victor Caratini Cubs Jersey . 98 jersey in a game yet, and already its a big seller. BOSTON -- Instant replay, meet the Pesky Pole. David Ortiz hit a three-run homer high over Fenway Parks right-field foul pole on Wednesday, helping the Boston Red Sox rally for a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. The fair call was confirmed by a replay review, according to Major League Baseballs replay Twitter account. "It was pretty close, but I knew it was fair," said Ortiz, who watched the ball sail into the seats before leaving the batters box. "I wanted to make sure it was fair. I wanted to keep watching it." The Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth and brought in Neal Cotts to face Ortiz with one out and two on in the bottom half. Ortiz, who had been 0 for 5 with five strikeouts against Cotts, lined a 1-1 fastball down the right-field line. Because the ball was much higher than the pole, which was named for former Red Sox shortstop Johnny Pesky, it was hard to tell where it crossed into foul territory. The pole is just 302 feet from home plate. "From our angle, its extremely difficult to tell," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We felt like it would be inconclusive at best with any type of replay that was available." Umpire Jerry Meals signalled a home run. Rangers manager Ron Washington waited until Ortiz crossed home plate and came out to ask for a review. After a brief chat with home plate umpire Jordan Baker, the crew went to the visitors dugout and returned a short time later to confirm the original ruling. After 44.1 seconds, the play was upheld. "You cant count the big boy out. You cant count this ballclub out," said Red Sox starter Jake Peavy, who did not earn a decision after leaving a 1-1 game in the sevennth inning.dddddddddddd"Once again, you had the big man up in a big situation and he comes through." Andrew Miller (1-0) earned the victory despite allowing the Rangers to score the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his second save. Alexi Ogando (0-1) allowed two runs in the loss. "Ortiz is one of the best and one of the clutchest hitters," Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said. The Red Sox scored in the third inning on two walks and a swinging bunt single that was thrown away for an error by pitcher Robbie Ross. The Rangers tied it in the seventh on Mitch Morelands homer and took a 2-1 lead in the eighth when Andrus scored on Alex Rios sacrifice fly. But Ogando walked Jackie Bradley Jr. to lead off the bottom half, and then A.J. Pierzynski blooped a popup down the right-field line that fell in for a single. One out later, Ortiz delivered his 24th career go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later. "I felt comfortable with Neal up against him," Washington said. "David won." Miller pitched one inning for the win. Ogando struck out four but was charged with two runs on one hit and a walk in his two innings. NOTES: The Red Sox activated LHP Craig Breslow and optioned RHP Brandon Workman to Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Peavy left his only other start this season with the score 2-2 after 6. ... Andrus has hit safely in all nine games this season. Rios had hit safely in the first eight before going 0 for 2 with a walk on Wednesday. ... Adrian Beltre, who left Tuesday nights game with tightness in his left quadriceps, returned to Texas on Wednesday for further tests. ' ' '