Steele survives run-in with sticky police; Cubs go above .500 mark for first time since May
PITTSBURGH — No one is comfortable being singled out by the authorities, whether it's getting pulled over in your car or pulled off the mound in the middle of a baseball game.
Justin Steele wasn't looking for any trouble, but all four umpires came together for a meeting before the start of Tuesday's third inning.
“You could probably see me shaking,” Steele said, only half-jokingly, “I was scared. I was like, 'I'm not really doing anything wrong here.'”
The potential for an ejection is real. MLB umpires became the sticky-substance police a few years ago and the wrong stuff could mean the end of the night or a suspension.
In Steele's case the umpires told him to wipe off his non-throwing right arm and all would be good. Problem resolved, Steele shook off a rough first inning and led the Cubs to a 9-5 victory over the Pirates.
“You're not allowed to have rosin on your non-pitching hand,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Just asked him take it off, he took it off, no big deal.”
There was a sense of relief for Steele, though, because he didn't realize that was part of the rules. Generous use of the rosin bag is his normal routine, but Tuesday's hot, humid, sticky conditions surely contributed to the umpires’ concern.
“It was definitely wet out there,” Steele said. “I was very sweaty. I was constantly trying to maintain my grip on the ball with sweat dripping down my hand and whatnot, using the rosin and stuff. I was able to catch a groove and I felt like I was getting stronger as the game was going on.”
The Cubs took control by scoring 9 runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Seiya Suzuki tied it at 2-2 with an opposite-field 2-run homer. Dansby Swanson homered for the second straight day, a towering 2-run shot to center field, while Miguel Amaya stayed hot with a 2-run single.
The Cubs (67-66) finally moved above .500 for the first time since May 28. Playing six consecutive series against teams with losing records, twice already they've won the first two games then failed to record a sweep — at home against Toronto and at Miami over the weekend. They'll get a third chance at a sweep Wednesday afternoon in Pittsburgh but are scheduled to face rookie sensation Paul Skenes, who will oppose Kyle Hendricks.
Before the game the Cubs added a couple of fresh arms for the bullpen. Keegan Thompson and Daniel Palencia were called up from Triple-A Iowa. Julian Merryweather went on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis, while Jack Neely was sent down to Iowa.
Both new pitchers took the mound in Tuesday's game. Thompson threw a scoreless eighth, and Palencia gave up 2 runs in the ninth, forcing Counsell to bring in Porter Hodge to get the final out.
There was a report Monday that the Cubs placed reliever Drew Smyly on waivers. If no team claims him, he'll likely remain with the Cubs. The veteran left-hander was in the clubhouse before and after Tuesday's game.