WATCH: Pirates feud in dugout during loss to Cubs |
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates endured a difficult 7-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Suffering from an offensive letdown, in which they accrued just two hits, the Pirates also suffered from having their catcher injured and manager ejected because of a controversial play late in the contest.
Anthony Rizzo's slide at home plate in the eighth inning, which briefly injured Pirates catcher Eliaz Diaz and led to the Cubs scoring two runs to go up 5-0, infuriated Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. After a video review by the umpires failed to overturn the original ruling of Rizzo's slide being clean, Hurdle got into a heated argument with an umpire and was thrown out for it. Here's the Rizzo slide at home #Cubs #Pirates pic.twitter.com/u9HHXmFmNr
Evidently, tensions boiled over in the Pirates' dugout, as well, with Pirates third-base coach Joey Cora and Pirates starting third baseman David Freese having to be separated following a confrontation. Frustration starting to boil over for the as Joey Cora and David Freese need to be separated following the #Pirates 8th loss in their last 10 games. pic.twitter.com/iekARkXlkh
The argument could have simply been the culmination of yet another frustrating performance for a reeling Pirates bunch that has lost eight of its last 10 games. However, rumors emerged following the conclusion of the game that the argument could have centered around Freese being irked at the Pirates coaches for not calling for Rizzo to get intentionally beamed as retribution for the controversial slide. While the Pirates have not publicly commented on the confrontation between Cora and Freese, it brings to light the distinct possibility that retaliation against Rizzo could take place in tomorrow's contest. With two more games set to be played at PNC Park as part of this series, chippiness and gamesmanship could play pivotal roles in the remainder of this National League Central affair.
