Justin Lawrence Takes Blame For Pirates Blown Loss To Cubs originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates blew a chance to sweep the Chicago Cubs on the road on Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s pitching allowed just three runs through the first two games, including a 2-0 shutout win in the opener. In the finale, the Pirates led 5-0 early, but the Cubs rallied and scored, eventually tying it in the bottom of the eighth, before walking it off in the bottom of the ninth.
With the Pirates up 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth, reliever Justin Lawrence gave up a two-out single to pinch-hitter Michael Busch. After one run scored, left fielder Bryan Reynolds threw the ball into the infield, but his throw went wide of second base, and Dansby Swanson scored the tying run on an error.
After the Cubs walked off the game in the bottom of the ninth, Lawrence took the blame and felt like he was the reason why the Pirates didn’t pull off the sweep.
“Just frustrated I couldn’t get the job done for the team,” Lawrence said postgame, via the team website. “It’s as simple as that. We’re playing really good baseball right now, and now feels like not the first time that I’ve kind of messed up our momentum. … It stinks. Should have come out of here with a sweep. I wasn’t able to get it done.”
Lawrence was credited with a blown save, and it’s the fourth straight appearance in which he has surrendered a run.
With the loss, the Pirates fell to 9-6, but remain atop the NL Central. Pittsburgh will return to the field on Monday for a three-game homestead against the Washington Nationals.
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