The Pirates couldn’t solve Cubs pitching in the Bucs home opener yesterday.
Joe Block has the story.
Manager Derek Shelton says the Pirates could not come up with the key hit when needed.
Bryan Reynolds had two of the Pirates six hits, including an 8th inning home run. He says he ran into the right pitch.
Before the game, the Pirates officially announced the eight-year $70 million contract extension for third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who said he feels like Pittsburgh is home.
Hayes says the Pirates are stocking up on future star players and he’s excited to be a part of it.
Hayes will be paid $10 million this season and next year, then $7 million from 2024 to 2027, followed by $8 million in both ’28 and ’29. The Pirates will then have the option of paying him $12 million in 2030 or taking a $6 million buyout for that season.
The brief two-game series ends today. It’s a 12:10 airtime on WCCS. Cubs ace Kyle Kendricks face the Pirates’ Zach Thompson, whose scheduled start in St. Louis on Sunday was rained out
ALTOONA CURVE 
Altoona scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning as the Curve beat Richmond last night, 3-2. Carter Bins hit a run-scoring single and Connor Scott followed with a two-run single to give the Curve a 3-0 lead.
Curve pitchers continued their strikeout binge. After striking out ten batters in each of the first three games of the season, they punched out nine last night. Noe Toribio picked up the win with an two-and-a-third innings of one-run relief of starter Kyle Nicolas, who gave up no runs in three-and-two-thirds innings. Matt Frazier had two hits, including a double, for the Curve.
Game two of the series is tonight, with Travis McGregor starting for the Curve.
