Cubs execute game plan against Pirates' ace Cole
Gerrit Cole had dominated the Chicago Cubs in nine career starts heading into the National League wild-card game, but things didn't go as planned when it mattered most.
The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander struggled to keep the ball down in Wednesday's 4-0 loss, allowing two left-handed batters - Kyle Schwarber and Dexter Fowler - to swat home runs and pile up four runs on the ace over five innings.
Schwarber got the Cubs on the board with an RBI single in the top of the first inning, then crushed a moonshot out of PNC Park two innings later to increase Chicago's lead to 3-0.
"We executed the game plan to a tee today," Schwarber told reporters after the game. "Hit the ball hard, lay off inside (pitches). Don't chase. Try to make solid contact."
COLE'S FINAL LINE
| IP | H | ER | BB | SO | PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 78 |
Fowler muscled a solo shot into right-center field stands in the fifth to make it 4-0 and score for the third time in the contest. Cole would retire the next two batters before making way for Antonio Bastardo.
"I had one of those nights when I couldn't make pitches, trying to find a rhythm,” Cole said.
Cole had gone 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA in his previous nine outings against the Cubs.