Controversial Hit To McCutchen Has Pirates Fans Talking
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's the hit heard 'round Pittsburgh.
It was a quiet game Friday night between the Pirates and Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park until Andrew McCutchen was hit by a 101 mile-an-hour fastball by Reds' closer Aroldis Chapman.
Though Pirates' fans may not have been in Cincinnati, that hit was felt all the way back home in Pittsburgh. So, you better believe that Saturday night's re-match had people talking.
"Looks like they're gunning for our batters with their pitchers there," said Pirates fan John Vannoi, of Franklin Park.
"That's part of baseball," added Pirates fan John Wood, from the North Hills. "Everybody gets a bean ball every once in a while; you just have to suck it up and play the game."
The other big talker was McCutchen's reaction to the hit in the dugout at the end of the game. The usually laid back Pirates' star was visibly upset; it's something fans say was done to motivate his teammates.
"He wants to get everything in the context of the game," said Tom Torchia, another Pirates fan. "He wants to fire them up because he's one of the best players there is, so he's mentally ready to go."
Mostly, fans are just hoping the Bucs keep it classy.
"I wouldn't retaliate, just keep playing the game the way we do," said Chuck Hazlett, of Lower Burrell. "Let them do the crazy stuff."
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