Final: Pirates 3, Brewers 1 (box)

WP: Wandy Rodriguez (4-2, 3.25 ERA)
LP: Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 4.50 ERA)
SV: Jason Grilli (16, 1.02 ERA)

Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven innings and gave up just one run on six hits. He also struck out five and walked one. The Brewers’ only run came on a solo home run by Rickie Weeks in the seventh inning. He danced out of some trouble in the fourth inning when Jonathan Lucroy led off the inning with a triple. Rodriguez was then able to induce two pop ups and a grounder to leave Lucroy at third.

Starling Marte led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to right center. After Gallardo walked Andrew McCutchen and Gaby Sanchez, Neil Walker delivered with a line drive single to center field to plate two runs to break the 0-0 tie. The Bucs would add another run in the eighth when McCutchen scored on an error by Weeks.

Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli each pitched 1-2-3 innings to seal the deal for the Pirates. Grilli is now 16 for 16 in save opportunities and moves into a tie with Mariano Rivera for most saves in the majors.

McCutchen stole his eighth and ninth bases of the season. He has been caught stealing just once in ten attempts this year compared to 12 caught stealings in 32 attempts last year.

Final: Pirates 5, Cardinals 0 (box)

WP: A.J. Burnett (1-2, 2.63 ERA)
LP: Shelby Miller (2-1, 1.96 ERA)

A.J. Burnett was perfect through 5 1/3 innings and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. His only two blemishes were a hit by pitch and a double to Carlos Beltran. He also struck out eight batters in his seven innings. His second strikeout was the 2,000th of his career.

The Pirates rushed out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Travis Snider that scored Starling Marte, who reached on a leadoff triple. Marte is now hitting .615/.643/.923 when leading off games this year. Unreal.

The Pirates added a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Neil Walker and added another in the seventh when Russell Martin scored on a throwing error by 3B David Freese on a Starling Marte ground ball. The Bucs would then add on some more insurance in the eight inning when Gaby Sanchez doubled in Andrew McCutchen. Sanchez would then score on a Pedro Alvarez single.

Overall, it was a very good game to watch. Burnett was unstoppable. The offense was stagnant through the middle innings, but came up with some timely hitting late in the game to close out the game. The bullpen pitched two perfect frames.

It’s really early to look at standings, but 14 games in, the Pirates are 7-7 and just one game back of the first place Cardinals.

The Pirates start a four game series tomorrow against the Braves. Jeff Locke will get the start against the organization that drafted him. After facing Miller tonight, the Pirates will face another highly regarded young arm in Julio Teheran.

Final: Pirates 3, Cubs 0 (box)

WP: Wandy Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP: Edwin Jackson (0-1, 3.60 ERA)
SV: Jason Grilli (1, 0.00 ERA)
MVP: Wandy Rodriguez (.248 WPA)

Wandy Rodriguez picked up right where he left off this spring as he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits. He struck out six batters and walked just one. Tony Watson helped get out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh and added a 1-2-3 eighth inning before giving way to new closer Jason Grilli who wrapped things up with a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the year.

The Pirates put up their first two runs in the fourth inning when Garrett Jones led off with a single. Andrew McCutchen would then drive him in with a double that short-hopped the left field wall. McCutchen would later score when Gaby Sanchez reached on an error by Starlin Castro to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

Pittsburgh would add an insurance run in the seventh inning thanks to a lead off double by Clint Barmes, who would score on an RBI single by Starling Marte.

Rodriguez, Watson, and Grilli combined for nine strikeouts, giving the staff 24 on the season.

James McDonald will take the hill tomorrow at 12:35 against Travis Wood to decide the series.

Final: Cubs 3, Pirates 1 (box)

WP: Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
LP: A.J. Burnett (0-1, 4.76 ERA)
SV: Kyuji Fujikawa (1, 0.00 ERA)

A.J. Burnett struck out ten batters in his first career Opening Day start, but it wasn’t enough as the Cubs scored two runs in the first inning on an Anthony Rizzo home run and led the rest of the way.

Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija gave up just two hits and one walk over eight shutout innings as the Pirates struggled to get out of the gate offensively.

Pedro Alvarez drove home the Bucs’ only run on a single in the ninth inning that scored Andrew McCutchen.

Relievers Justin Wilson, Jared Hughes, and Mark Melancon combined to toss 3 1/3 scoreless innings while adding another five strikeouts to push the staff’s total to 15 on the afternoon.

Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, and Pedro Alvarez were the only Pirates who were able to collect a hit. McCutchen stole the first base of the season for the club in the ninth inning following a walk that moved him into scoring position.

The Pirates are off tomorrow and face the Cubs again on Wednesday at 7:05 ET. Wandy Rodriguez takes the hill for the Bucs against Edwin Jackson.