Opening Day 2014: Chicago Cubs – Pittsburgh Pirates live thread

Here’s our live in-game thread for today’s Opening Day contest between the Pirates and the Cubs. We’ll keep you updated as the game transpires, and we encourage our fans to weigh in on the game in the comments section.

For lineups, broadcast information for the game, visit here.

This thread will be updated.

Full recap to come at cubbiescrib.com – Neil Walker hits a walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth off Carlos Villanueva, giving the Pirates a 1-0 win on Opening Day.

END 9: Fasten your seatbelts, folks. We’re heading to the tenth inning with no score after Junior Lake makes a nice running catch to end the Pirates’ half of the ninth inning.

MID 9: The Cubs leave another man in scoring position as Bucs closer Jason Grilli works around a baserunner to keep this game scoreless and give Pittsburgh the chance to walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.

END 8: We’ll head to the ninth with no score at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Pirates and Cubs both with five hits apiece.

MID 8: Admit it, at this point you’re not even surprised that the club squandered another run-scoring opportunity. As Pat Hughes put it, the club, “can’t buy one today”.

END 7: Samardzija is likely approaching the end of his afternoon. He seems intent on repeating last year’s Opening Day performance in Pittsburgh, when he tossed eight scoreless frames, leading the Cubs to a 3-1 win. So far today, neither offense has been able to manage a run.

MID 7: Well, it’s time to stretch. Liriano is done, but the Cubs hitters do no damage against lefty Tony Watson in the top of the seventh.

END 6: A double play turned by Castro helped Samardzija and company get out of trouble in the sixth and we’ll head to the seventh scoreless. Could become a battle of the bullpens here on Opening Day.

MID 6: The Cubs had two on and no outs before Anthony Rizzo struck out – for the third time today. Liriano gutted his way through the frame, retiring Mike Olt on a flyout to left and Welington Castillo via a bevy of offspeed pitches that resulted in the southpaw’s tenth strikeout of the day. Still no score in Pittsburgh.

END 5: No runs, one hit and we head to the sixth with no score. Can’t say enough about how well both clubs’ starters have pitched today.

MID 5: The first challenge of the season in MLB came when Samardzija bunted with runners at first and second with no outs. Liriano fielded, forced the runner at third and then a throw across the diamond got the Cubs’ pitcher, as well. Renteria loses the challenge on the play at first and the Cubs fail to score.

END 4: Pitchers are dominating through the first half of today’s ballgame. Liriano has been masterful, but has a higher pitch count than Samardzija thus far, which could be a factor later in the game.

MID 4: Liriano strikes out the Cubs’ 4-5-6 hitters in order, now has 8 strikeouts through just four innings of work. Making Chicago hitters look foolish today.

END 3: An 8-3 double play was turned to end the inning after Starling Marte was doubled off after trying to steal. We’ll head to the fourth without any runs on the board in the Steel City.

MID 3: Cubs’ new leadoff man Emilio Bonifacio singles on a ground ball in the hole at short, steals second, but Starlin Castro can’t come through and deliver with two outs and the Cubs fail to score.

END 2: Pittsburgh managed a pair of hits off Jeff Samardzija, but a 4-6-3 double play changed the feel of the inning. Pirates do not score, game remains scoreless headed to the third.

MID 2: The Cubbies go 1-2-3, as Francisco Liriano continues to pitch well early-on. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in the second.

END 1: Reigning National League MVP Andrew McCutchen lined a two-out single but was stranded at first to end the inning. We’ll head to the second with no score from Pittsburgh.

MID-1: After a leadoff bloop single by Emilio Bonifacio, the Cubs go 1-2-3, and we head to the bottom of the first with no score.